Influx of boat people a "huge burden for Thailand" - military spokesman

[Lite Beer]

Influx of boat people a "huge burden for Thailand" - military spokesman

BANGKOK - Thailand is buckling under the burden of sheltering and feeding hundreds of boat people over the past month, a senior government spokesman said on Thursday, and needs more help from rights groups and non-governmental organisations.

Many of the arrivals are Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar, while others are Bangladeshi.

The arrivals follow reports of a surge in the number of people fleeing Myanmar’s restive Rakhine State where tensions persist between the state’s Muslim and Buddhist communities.

"Taking care of them is a burden for Thailand and we have touse a lot of money to look after them," Colonel Banpot Phupian, a spokesman for the military’s Internal Security Operations Command, told Reuters.

"The international community is saying respect their rights but Thailand has to fend for itself and has to arrange food and other basic necessities for these people."

Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State since 2012 when violent clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists killed hundreds and made about 140,000homeless - most of them Rohingya, described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

The boats often sail from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Thailand where human trafficking-gangs hold thousands of boat people in jungle camps until relatives pay ransoms to secure their release.

Chris Lewa of The Arakan Project, which plots migration across the Bay of Bengal, said 12,000 Rohingya have boarded boats in northern Rakhine since Oct. 15.

Most are headed for Malaysia but many end up in Thailand after authorities intercept their boats or are waylaid and held for ransom at camps in Thailand by smugglers and traffickers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Influx-of-boat-people-a-huge-burden-for-Thailand---30247716.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-13

[jacky54]

He's right, turn them away at all costs.

[peptidebomber]

Human rights is not something Thailand worries about at all, trafficking and smuggling slaves has been a money maker here for a long time.

Only have to look at some recently published bank accounts to know which organisation makes the most out if it and realise it's not going to get better anytime soon.

[JOC]

Yingluck was a bigger burden to Thailand. So maybe pushing her boat back in the water might be the solution??

[ratcatcher]

Well at least we could feed them all, tons of rice available.

[fab4]

The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US this year..........................

[ratcatcher]

The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US this year..........................

What on earth would we all do without your wise comments fabie?

[JOC]

The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US this year..........................

But they are the "good people"!! (the army, not the posters!)

[englishoak]

BS the UK takes over 200k people a year, Thailand can deal with a few thousand

[fab4]

The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US this year..........................

What on earth would we all do without your wise comments fabie?

Not have such a large number of accredited posts (in reply)?....................................

Edited November 13, 2014 by fab4

[JOC]

BS the UK takes over 200k people a year, Thailand can deal with a few thousand

But maybe Thailand don't want to end up with a UK-like scenario??

[bangkokfrog]

"Thailand is buckling under the burden of sheltering and feeding hundreds of boat people over the past month..."

Doesn't take much to make Thailand "buckle", does it.

What about compassion and good Buddhist works? Oh forgot... that doesn't count for anyone from Burma.

[ultimate weapon]

ship them over to farang countries like australia. Don't worry farang love human rights so they get to take care of them even though lots of them don't like it either.

[Elmer Gantry]

The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US this year..........................

don't agree as i am neutral,but admire your fortitude keep up the posts

[simonuk]

Buddhist nation???

[simonuk]

The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US

Edited November 13, 2014 by simonuk

[simonuk]

BS the UK takes over 200k people a year, Thailand can deal with a few thousand

But maybe Thailand don't want to end up with a UK-like scenario??

A Thriving multicultural nation , one of the most tolerant and wealthy countries on earth?

Why would a 3rd world country aspire to improve? Best stay backwards and zenephobic eh?

[noitom]

Thailand is an island in the world when it comes to human rights and giving. Thailand wants no part of bare minimal costs to feed and shelter these destitute abused people. Thailand rather shuttles them off to the slave market run by Thai big men. Everyone knows this. Why doesn't the newspaper continue this investigation and lead police and the army to a few Thai big men busts.

Why doesn't the editorial board the newspaper evangelize refugee programs in Thailand. Education , useful work, contributing to a new way of life and support of Thailand? Thailand just doesn't want to be on the humanitarian side with other global nations. Thailand is a nation of 70 million who have been helped considerably by humanitarian organizations and foreign aid and funding. Thailand just refuses to be on the "giving" end of humanitarian work. What goes around comes around.

[Thai at Heart]

Yeah right. We have no rice to feed them. Lol

This from a country that can feed hundreds of thousands of monks with donations, but apparently can't feed hundreds of displaced humans. These Thais really do miss the point sometimes.

Edited November 13, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[simple1]

He's right, turn them away at all costs.

Guess you didn't read the OP:

Most are headed for Malaysia but many end up in Thailand after authorities intercept their boats or are waylaid and held for ransom at camps in Thailand by smugglers and traffickers.

[tbthailand]

hundreds of refugees are a burden for Thailand ... according to the military.

How generous these generals are.

Happiness for all Thai people, but screw the rest of the world. Definitely the right organization in Thai society to clean up corruption, protect human rights and deliver democracy - real democracy, not that fake western democracy, real human rights, not fake western human rights, ... what a bunch of apes.

[dieter1]

"Thailand is buckling under the burden of sheltering and feeding hundreds of boat people ..."

sorry, but this is just a verz primitive try of a populistic politician, playing the xenophobia card.

Thailand is a country of about 70 million people, and not so poor anymore.

If this man really is thinking, that "Thailand is buckling under the burden of sheltering and feeding hundreds of boat people he surely needs to visit a doctor (psychiatrist ) or start his school career again at first class !

I think, Libanon, a small country with about 6 million people, alone, has to shoulder about 1 million refugees from Syria. That is a burden!!!!!!!!

To some extent I can understand the fear, if people from other coutries are invading your country in masses (say millions). But some hundreds in one month is a friction of a peanut!

Officials from UNHCR will just laugh if they will be confrontated with these silly comments from Thai officials.

Edited November 13, 2014 by dieter1

[simonuk]

There is very little critical thinking taught in most Thailand schools. Because of this the population can be fed almost any nonsense and it's not anylised and dissected it's simply believed.

Short term selfish governments love this , it makes populations easier to rule and therefore it's unlikely to change.

70million can't feed a few hundred starving destitute fellow humans . Yeah right.

Edited November 13, 2014 by simonuk

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies about migration policy into UK or EU have been removed.

Also a racist post and replies to it removed - petercool - moderator team

[steven100]

Turn the boats back ....

Many countries are starting to follow in Australia's foot steps, thousands of Sri Lanka's, Afghans & Iraqis pay smugglers big dollars to get them to other countries, either Europe, Asia or Australia.

However now that the Australian government has taken a more hard line approach the boats have stopped coming ...

Yes, and good job. There are now practically zero boats trying to come to Australia ... and this is because the ' turn the boats back ' policy is working.

If you are a genuine refugee fleeing then that's fine ... but do not pay a people smuggler $10,000 to jump on a boat and set sail for Australia. If you have $10k to pay someone then you are not a genuine refugee.

Most people don't understand the situation and just comment on the ' poor suffering ' bla .. bla .. bla ..

Well, let me tell you it's the people smugglers making hundreds of thousands of dollars every trip they attempt, so they don't care what happens to these people once the money is in there hands.

When the boat gets into trouble they send out a distress call and just wait to be picked up and then blend in with the refugees .... then return to indonesia, sri lanka, Afghanistan or wherever to arrange for another trip. It's a scam .... why do you think australia went to great lengths to think of a solution ? because it was costing millions & the smuggler still gets paid.

So before all the people who comment here feel sorry for these poor boat people ..... you need to understand the situation fully and have all the facts, and only then may you realize that it's far more complicated than just refugees on a boat.

Because quite frankly, when it comes to boat people most don't understand and most post rubbish. It's a very complicated issue that involves thousands upon thousands of dollars for police, smugglers, middle men etc ....

Edited November 14, 2014 by steven100

[trainman34014]

Terrible burden....all those extra tow ropes needed for towing the helpless back out to sea.

Shame on Thailand...but they are used to it !

[kinmaew]

We only care about ourselves to hell with the world. Better you go live on another planet with that attitude.

[rickirs]

Maybe the NCPO can ask its new economic partners Russia and China to provide humantarian aid.

[rickirs]

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The quality of posts here just gets better and better, one xenophobe, a pointless reference to Yingluck, and an attempted link to the Rice Subsidy scheme.

All over the misguided comments of a military "spokesmen" who is totally unaware of the irony of the situation that finds him speaking on behalf of an organisation that cost Thailand $5.7 Billion US

“The high cost of stability”

Oct 8th 2014, 6:38 (by a well-known economic publication)

“It is perhaps worth noting that, though the World Bank did not mention political risk explicitly, its predicted shortfall from Thailand’s potential growth in the years from 2014 to 2016 roughly matches the estimated average annual negative shock on GDP that this analysis would attribute to the average coup. Paul Collier, a professor of economics at Oxford who has noted that coups ‘are not a cheap way of replacing a government', calculates that the cumulative effect of a coup, tracked over several years, is to reduce incomes by 7%.”

“The members of the triumphant mob that cheered the army to power are still enjoying their victory. Playing politics with the economy is an expensive business. The costs to Thailand’s economy are still piling up. Compared with trend economic growth the cost will be perhaps $20 billion to $30 billion from 2014 to 2016, which makes it roughly equal in value to the wealth of the Thai monarchy.”

(my bold emphasis)

[JOC]

BS the UK takes over 200k people a year, Thailand can deal with a few thousand

But maybe Thailand don't want to end up with a UK-like scenario??

A Thriving multicultural nation , one of the most tolerant and wealthy countries on earth?

Why would a 3rd world country aspire to improve? Best stay backwards and zenephobic eh?

That was not, what I was saying!!

But there are no denying that the big influx of immigrants are creating social tension, both Brit/immigrant and Brit/Brit (for or against immigration).

I am all for helping the refugees, but it has to be on terms of the recieving country. Let the UK make a deal with UNWRA about taking, let's say, 50.000/year. No one coming on their own to the border is accepted in, only the ones suggested by the UNWRA and accepted by the UK.

A natural choice would be the Christian minorities fleeing ISIS, since I suppose it would be easier for them to integrate. WIn/win, the UK is doing their part and hopefully social tension will decrease because the local population will show more understanding to a group with the same religious background!!

PS. If I was allowed to print my own money, I would be wealthy too!!