Rohingya boat lands in Thailand as monsoon rages

[webfact]

Rohingya boat lands in Thailand as monsoon rages

BANGKOK, September 12, 2013 (AFP) - More than 200 Muslim Rohingya boat people have landed in southern Thailand, authorities said Thursday, a possible sign that vessels from Myanmar are risking the journey before the end of the monsoon season.

The group, believed to be fleeing sectarian violence in unrest-torn Rakhine State, western Myanmar, landed on a remote beach during a storm in southern Satun province on Wednesday, an official said.

"We gave them water, food and fixed their boat," the official from the local Internal Security Operation Command, who did not want to be named, told AFP, adding the group then returned to the boat and set sail.

"We want them to go away out of the country... They do not want to stay here and authorities here do not want to take them", he said, adding the Rohingya normally want to head on to neighbouring Muslim countries.

While he did not mention any countries by name, the Rohingya generally prefer to aim for Malaysia or Indonesia.

Thousands of Muslim Rohingya boat people -- including women and children -- have fled the former junta-ruled country since Buddhist-Muslim clashes a year ago in Rakhine.

But most make the perilous journey after the monsoon has waned in October when high seas calm.

A local village official confirmed late Wednesday that the group had made land in Satun province, after a 15-day voyage through rough seas.

"They are all men -- aged between 15 and 45-years-old... they looked skinny, they had no energy -- some could not even walk," Somnuk Khunsuek told AFP, adding they wanted to reach Malaysia.

Thailand has faced criticism from rights groups for detaining hundreds of Rohingya boat people in overcrowded and insanitary facilities while it waits for a "third country" to offer to take them.

But overseas help has not been forthcoming so far, leaving the refugees in limbo, and separated from their families.

The kingdom initially said the asylum-seekers would be allowed to stay for six months while the government worked with the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, to try to find other countries willing to accept them.

It has extended the deadline to early next year, but rights groups say the Rohingya remain vulnerable to exploitation while they do not have full legal status in the kingdom.

In January Thai authorities opened an investigation into allegations that army officials were involved in trafficking Rohingya.

A spokeswoman for the UN's refugee arm said boat people should never be "pushed on", adding those fleeing unrest "must be able to access asylum where they arrive".


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-09-12

[Countryman]

What must it be like to be not wanted by anyone or anywhere,poor buggers,

it must be terrible for them, die on dry land or take a chance on the sea.

There is something very wrong with this World and the Governments in it,

to let things like this happen,but the Rohingya are not the only people in

the World to be treated this way,discriminated against,and without a place

to call home.and nothing ever changes.

relax Countryman

[hellodolly]

What must it be like to be not wanted by anyone or anywhere,poor buggers,

it must be terrible for them, die on dry land or take a chance on the sea.

There is something very wrong with this World and the Governments in it,

to let things like this happen,but the Rohingya are not the only people in

the World to be treated this way,discriminated against,and without a place

to call home.and nothing ever changes.

relax Countryman

Completely agree with you. The problem gets compounded when it is based in religious differences.

[noitom]

What must it be like to be not wanted by anyone or anywhere,poor buggers,

it must be terrible for them, die on dry land or take a chance on the sea.

There is something very wrong with this World and the Governments in it,

to let things like this happen,but the Rohingya are not the only people in

the World to be treated this way,discriminated against,and without a place

to call home.and nothing ever changes.

relax Countryman

Very Sad but true. That's where the true character of a nation shows up. How much aid do the big Thai Mr. Bigs give to NGOs to resettle the Rohingya? Why don't we ever read any news of Thai giving. We read constantly about how wealthy Thais are living and beating the law with impunity but never any news of mega giving.

[David48]

Before you lot get carried away with the populist notion that Thailand is a morally bankrupt place, on a per capita basis, Thailand takes more Refugees then the world average.

More then the USA or Australia or many Western Nations.

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

[DocN]

Before you lot get carried away with the populist notion that Thailand is a morally bankrupt place, on a per capita basis, Thailand takes more Refugees then the world average.

More then the USA or Australia or many Western Nations.

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

...and..?

Maybe you should read these parts again:

"We gave them water, food and fixed their boat," the official from the local Internal Security Operation Command, who did not want to be named, told AFP, adding the group then returned to the boat and set sail."

Aaaaaaawwwww...modern seafaring is so romantic! They just set sails and sailed into the sunset! So nice!

"We want them to go away out of the country... They do not want to stay here and authorities here do not want to take them", he said, adding the Rohingya normally want to head on to neighbouring Muslim countries."

Yeah...totally believe that! They just booked a sailing- trip to Malaysia and now they unfortunately landed in Thailand! No way, they would want to be here, especially....

"They are all men -- aged between 15 and 45-years-old... they looked skinny, they had no energy -- some could not even walk," Somnuk Khunsuek told AFP, adding they wanted to reach Malaysia."

Still they wanted to go to the promised land eg Malaysia!

It was just the best thing to do, to send them back out on the monsoon- strikken sea. I guess, they gain some energy there.

It is a crying shame, how these people are treated!

In Myanmar, in Thailand, before the eyes of the world!

Edited September 13, 2013 by DocN

[lee b]

It must be hell where they are from attempting a journey in a boat that probobly just floats in a monsoon !

[metisdead]

Troll post and other nonsense posts and replies have been removed.

[dcutman]

With so many industries screaming for labor, 10's of thousands needed in the fishing industry, 100's of thousands needed in construction. I dont understand why separate the families and lock them in cages. Just document them, and let them go to work for a couple years and contribute to the economy, until they get their shit together, and move on.

Not sure why it is any different than the million or so migrant workers here now.

[David48]

Before you lot get carried away with the populist notion that Thailand is a morally bankrupt place, on a per capita basis, Thailand takes more Refugees then the world average.

More then the USA or Australia or many Western Nations.

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

...and..? <snip>

... and ... please point the part of the Article where it says the Rohingya people were seeking Aslymn or Refugee status in Thailand ...

... or was it just an assumption on your behalf?

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

.

[tw25rw]

"They are all men -- aged between 15 and 45-years-old... they looked skinny, they had no energy -- some could not even walk," Somnuk Khunsuek told AFP, adding they wanted to reach Malaysia."

Still they wanted to go to the promised land eg Malaysia!

I don't think Malaysia is their final destination. It's just where the people smugglers promising a new life in Australia are waiting. Edited September 13, 2013 by tw25rw

[DocN]

Before you lot get carried away with the populist notion that Thailand is a morally bankrupt place, on a per capita basis, Thailand takes more Refugees then the world average.

More then the USA or Australia or many Western Nations.

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

...and..? <snip>

... and ... please point the part of the Article where it says the Rohingya people were seeking Aslymn or Refugee status in Thailand ...

... or was it just an assumption on your behalf?

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

.

Hmmm...maybe you point out, where they had the chance to do it?

Before they sailed out into the sunset?

Please don't logic interfere with your humanity...

[Scott]

Thailand hosts a great number of people fleeing their home countries, however, Thailand is not a signatory to the UN Conventions on Refugees. Thailand is not a resettlement country for refugees, although it does allow some to remain.

For refugees in Thailand, it is a tenuous stay. The UN does not call them asylum seekers or refugees. People fleeing persecution in Thailand are labeled as "Persons of Concern".

[hellodolly]

Before you lot get carried away with the populist notion that Thailand is a morally bankrupt place, on a per capita basis, Thailand takes more Refugees then the world average.

More then the USA or Australia or many Western Nations.

Don't let facts interrupt a good story ... carry on ...

.

David48

Thanks for reminding me of that. I may some times post negatively about the way Thailand treats refugees but the truth is in most cases it is the ones who show up in the southern provinces on their way to some where else. These provinces are not geared up for the handling of refugees. Where as the camps in the North are.

I recently did a presentation in a camp in Mai Sot. It had a population of 50,000 people the largest camp in Thailand. I believe there is four camps. Yes they were poor but they were much happier than they had been in Burma. There was in all fairness many NGOs working with them also.

So on the over all Thailand does far more of it's share in helping refugees than any other country. Recently there has been so many refuges from Syria that perhaps some other country is hosting more but that will only be a temporary measure. It will end there and they will for the most part be able to return home. Such is not the case with many of the Burmese refugees.

I am not in any way endorsing the handling of the Rohingya but I am saying that Thailand should not be judged on the in reality very few there.

[hellodolly]

With so many industries screaming for labor, 10's of thousands needed in the fishing industry, 100's of thousands needed in construction. I dont understand why separate the families and lock them in cages. Just document them, and let them go to work for a couple years and contribute to the economy, until they get their shit together, and move on.

Not sure why it is any different than the million or so migrant workers here now.

Good idea.

They could also tell the Muslims in the south what it is like to be on the end of the stick being persecuted by another religion.