Thailand Detains 76 Migrants from Myanmar

[Jacob Maslow]

Maesot, Thailand - July 12, 2014: Unknown Karen woman with powder face in Mae La refugee camp in Thailand

The Thai authorities stated on Monday that they found a group of 76 migrants from Myanmar on a train. Six of the migrants were suspected Rohingya. The discovery is a sign that despite the country’s increased efforts to stop trafficking, human smuggling is an issue.

Thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmaar since 2012 due to violence. Many wind up in Malaysia, but some are forced into smuggling camps in southern parts of Thailand. The victims are held captive until their relatives pay a ransom for their release.

The 76 migrants were stopped at the Tong Sung district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Some members of the group were headed to Malaysia hoping to find work, while the Rohingya were hoping to enter Malaysia. The migrants were sitting with other Thai passengers, but were not carrying any travel documents. The police have yet to determine whether or not traffickers were in the group.

Just last week, Thailand implemented harsher punishments for human traffickers. Life imprisonment and the death penalty may be given in some cases if victims die while in the trafficker’s custody.

The migrants were removed from the train and charged with illegal entry. Those from Myanmar were deported back to their home country. The six Rohingya still need to have their nationalities identified. The migrants claimed that they did not know each other.

Reportedly, relatives of the Rohingya paid approximately 70,000 baht each for passage. The Myanmar nationals, on the other hand, claim not to have paid anyone. At this point, the authorities have yet to determine whether or not any of the migrants were human traffickers. The first step is to identify the nationalities of the Rohingya.

The Myanmar nationals and the six Roningya (all men in their 20s) are being held at an immigration center in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

-- 2015-03-31

[Srikcir]

Why can't the Thai government approach the migration issue for the Rohingya hoping to enter Malaysia with a proactive policy?

Myanmar doesn't want them and Malaysia does. Thailand doesn't like to find them. So the Thai embassy in Myanmar arranges transfer to Malaysia through Thailand with secure and safe passage after verification of ID. The Rohingya pay for the documentation and passage that should be minimal compared to what they pay traffickers.

Thailand documents their arrival in Malaysia. End of issue.

[h90]

Why can't the Thai government approach the migration issue for the Rohingya hoping to enter Malaysia with a proactive policy?

Myanmar doesn't want them and Malaysia does. Thailand doesn't like to find them. So the Thai embassy in Myanmar arranges transfer to Malaysia through Thailand with secure and safe passage after verification of ID. The Rohingya pay for the documentation and passage that should be minimal compared to what they pay traffickers.

Thailand documents their arrival in Malaysia. End of issue.

They can't do that. But they could make a policy that every Rohingya in Thailand only need to tell he is Malaysian and Police and Army will believe it and send them to Malaysia.

But I doubt Malaysia really wants them.