Thai Lawyers Council: Curfew against migrant workers on southern islands illegal

[webfact]

Lawyers Council: Curfew against migrant workers on southern islands illegal

BANGKOK: -- The curfew imposed against foreign migrants workers on Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha-ngan by the governor of Surat Thani province is an act of racial discrimination and a violation of basic right that everyone under the law is equally treated.

Mr Surapong Kongchantoek, chairman of the human rights of stateless people, migrant workers and displaced persons of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, today challenged Surat Thani governor’s order citing the Martial Law to ban migrant workers on the three islands from leaving their lodgings after 10 pm.

He claimed that the governor had no authority to issue the order which should have come from the government. Also, he noted that Martial Law could only be invoked by the military.

The governor’s order, he said, will tarnish the reputation of the country, particularly on human rights aspect.

However, he said that foreign migrant workers who failed to register will face arrests on illegal immigration charges whereas their employers will also be liable to legal actions.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/lawyers-council-curfew-migrant-workers-southern-islands-illegal/


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-04

[peptidebomber]

Like anyone here worries about what is legal or not.

Human rights for immigrants, they are joking I hope!

Tarnish the reputation of this country?? Like they care what anyone else thinks!

Edited November 4, 2014 by peptidebomber

[kaobang]

was it effective?i heard it was just a plan

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/771891-curfew-for-migrant-workers-on-islands-in-surat-thani-may-be-imposed/

Edited November 4, 2014 by kaobang

[casindonet]

That's it Thailand....keep up the good work of shooting your own foot

[petedk]

Racial discrimination.... does anyone in Thailand know those words?

[JOC]

Like anyone here worries about what is legal or not.

Human rights for immigrants, they are joking I hope!

Tarnish the reputation of this country?? Like they care what anyone else thinks!

Instead of the usual anti-Thai mantra, what about applauding the fact, that there are people trying to change it??

Yesterday the NHRC challenged the Thai police and today Thai lawyers Council are questioning the authority of a dinosaur governor.

Those are the people, we should be supporting!!

[peptidebomber]

Like anyone here worries about what is legal or not.

Human rights for immigrants, they are joking I hope!

Tarnish the reputation of this country?? Like they care what anyone else thinks!

Instead of the usual anti-Thai mantra, what about applauding the fact, that there are people trying to change it??

Yesterday the NHRC challenged the Thai police and today Thai lawyers Council are questioning the authority of a dinosaur governor.

Those are the people, we should be supporting!!

Fair point, I'm not generally that negative but lately have found it hard to be positive.

I agree the NHRC needs all the support it can get, good luck to them, I hope they can effect change.

[Thai at Heart]

I think any lawyer will find literally hundreds of cases where foreigners are not extended equal rights to Thais in Thai law.

So if, they want to ban curfews for immigrant labour, when will I be able to own land?

[chainarong]

Once again rulings have been made without any for thought to what effect this has, the situation is indeed racist, if good enough for one good enough for all , Id like to see a curfew for all Muslims in Sydney, New York or London introduced and the hue N cry that would cause, nothing different here, unless antisocial acts are taking place against the state, in that case deportation is the answer.

[bkkgooner]

It really is refreshing to see people care about human rights in Thailand

[jdinasia]

Racial discrimination.... does anyone in Thailand know those words?

Do you know the meaning of the word "race"?

[baboon]

Like anyone here worries about what is legal or not.

Human rights for immigrants, they are joking I hope!

Tarnish the reputation of this country?? Like they care what anyone else thinks!

Instead of the usual anti-Thai mantra, what about applauding the fact, that there are people trying to change it??

Yesterday the NHRC challenged the Thai police and today Thai lawyers Council are questioning the authority of a dinosaur governor.

Those are the people, we should be supporting!!

I don't know how much good it will do, but very well done to those guys for at least speaking up. Edited November 4, 2014 by baboon

[hansgruber]

What they don't say is that it's gotten better.

When I first came here Burmese weren't allowed a mobile phone or a motorbike and we're off the streets by 6pm.

Now I see them roaming freely and owning bikes and cars.

[slapout]

Another case of a Thai civil employee over stepping his authority. This is a direct indication of his knowledge as well as his compitence in carrying out his job description. I doubt that he was reviewed for qulification of either of these abilities.

[bangrak]

Racial discrimination.... does anyone in Thailand know those words?

Do you know the meaning of the word "race"?

'petedk' maybe should have written 'xenophobic', or better 'ethnic' instead of 'racial', although any Thai or Burmese you'd ask whether they are of the same race will give you a negative answer, it's a question of perception, 'race' equals 'ethnicity' here, like in Indon race, Khmer race, Lao race, Burmese race, etc., while it might, in fact, be very difficult to determine characteristics typifying an 'ethnic' Thai, but, hush, don't tell it to the Thais, you might hurt their pride, when they would not be, really 100%, from 'Central', the other 70% of the population having to be considered as cross-bred, oops...!

[jdinasia]

As Thai Lao Khmer and Burmese are the same race. Different ethnicity.

[khunpa]

Who really cares what is illegal here? With corruption everywhere the words legal or illegal have no real meaning anyway.

If you are rich, you can kill a person and avoid justice. If you are poor, other can do to you as they like. Thats the reality and no lawyer can change that anyway.

[RustBucket]

Racial discrimination.... does anyone in Thailand know those words?

Do you know the meaning of the word "race"?

Well considering that the topic is about migrant workers which are of a different 'race' as Thais. Then I am assuming he does understand the word race as his comment is 100% pertinent.

The actual irony is YOUR statement which indicates that YOU don;'t seem to assimilate the word race with his comment for some strange reason.

[englishoak]

Like it was ever acceptable or legal to curfew migrants only......... whats next on the suggestion list an identifyable armband or a sew on patch ? dont use a star though thats already been done.

[Thai at Heart]

Like it was ever acceptable or legal to curfew migrants only......... whats next on the suggestion list an identifyable armband or a sew on patch ? dont use a star though thats already been done.

Define immigrant?

Maybe they curfew all the farangs with work permits.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[englishoak]

Like it was ever acceptable or legal to curfew migrants only......... whats next on the suggestion list an identifyable armband or a sew on patch ? dont use a star though thats already been done.

Define immigrant?

Maybe they curfew all the farangs with work permits.

Honestly such a suggestion would not be that surprising in some form here........ papers please.

[Thai at Heart]

Like it was ever acceptable or legal to curfew migrants only......... whats next on the suggestion list an identifyable armband or a sew on patch ? dont use a star though thats already been done.

Define immigrant?

Maybe they curfew all the farangs with work permits.

Honestly such a suggestion would not be that surprising in some form here........ papers please.

Well, this is their stupid problem with trying to separate people on the basis of ethnicity or nation without considering the legal status.

So, foreign labourers are subject to curfew. Hmmmmmmmm..........Why that wouldn't legally apply to all foreigners working in the area, I don't know.

[Thai at Heart]

Like it was ever acceptable or legal to curfew migrants only......... whats next on the suggestion list an identifyable armband or a sew on patch ? dont use a star though thats already been done.

Define immigrant?

Maybe they curfew all the farangs with work permits.

Honestly such a suggestion would not be that surprising in some form here........ papers please.

Well, this is their stupid problem with trying to separate people on the basis of ethnicity or nation without considering the legal status.

So, foreign labourers are subject to curfew. Hmmmmmmmm..........Why that wouldn't legally apply to all foreigners working in the area, I don't know.

[jdinasia]

Racial discrimination.... does anyone in Thailand know those words?

Do you know the meaning of the word "race"?

Well considering that the topic is about migrant workers which are of a different 'race' as Thais. Then I am assuming he does understand the word race as his comment is 100% pertinent.

The actual irony is YOUR statement which indicates that YOU don;'t seem to assimilate the word race with his comment for some strange reason.

You seem not to know the difference between race and ethnicity /nationality like your friend

[MikePhuket1970]

Pure Racism.

Admiring nazi german Thais can enjoy their dark desires

which they did so much already with employees from neighbouring countries.

Just ask people from cambodia,birma and laos how they enjoy the thainess

[yougivemebaby]

Illegal curfews against illegal migrant workers? Will the illegal police enforce this?

[BudRight]

They have to follow the rules while in Thailand. It's not their country. If they don't like it they can go home right?

[Lupatria]

This says it all about the mindset of some governors here if they need the Lawyers Council of Thailand to raise awareness to the fact there are some basic human rights to be respected. Even for those who still believe they live on their own planet.

[bongoz]

"They have to follow the rules while in Thailand. It's not their country. If they don't like it they can go home right?"

They also have to abide by basic human rights, international law and UN Conventions. Which they don't!

[templedog]

Pure Racism.

Admiring nazi german Thais can enjoy their dark desires

which they did so much already with employees from neighbouring countries.

Just ask people from cambodia,birma and laos how they enjoy the thainess

JDINASIA wants to know if "you know the meaning of the word, race."