Royal Thai Navy Area 3 survey Andaman for Rohingya

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Royal Thai Navy Area 3 survey Andaman for Rohingya
Nattha Thepbamrung


The navy vessel Tor993 checks out a fishing boat.

PHUKET: -- A team from the Phuket based Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Area 3 today (May 12) went on an aerial survey mission looking for Rohingya detention camps. The mission came following reports about Rohingya camps being located around the Andaman region.

“Two days ago we received a report about six Rohingya boats [in the Andaman area] so we sent out survey ships to look for them.

“This morning we received a report from a survey ship stating there was an an empty boat which was suspected of being used to smuggle Rohingyas which had sunk 15 miles from the Similan Islands. We believe it was sunk by smugglers who wanted to hide the boat as it is evidence,” said Capt Pongjak Uraiman, Commander of Naval Air Section.

With regards to the six suspect boats seen around Phuket a few days ago, Capt Pongjak said, “After investigation, the navy did not find anything illegal. However, after we received information from a Thai fishing boat that some Rohingya people may have been transferred to another boat around Racha Island.

“This was just before getting the report this morning about the sunken boat.

Meanwhile, three days ago a navy team found an abandoned camp in Rawee Island in Satun which they believe housed Rohingyas who were possibly brought there through Songkhla and then into Malaysia.

“A source has told us that they saw some Rohingya getting transferred to another boat. A boat believed to be the one used to transfer them was burnt and sunk around the Similan Islands.”

“This morning we also got an update for a separate case that some Rohingya arrived onshore and we believe they are the same group being moved from the camp in Satun.”

Capt Chayut Navespootikorn, Chief of Staff, RTN of Operation Fleet Area 3 explained that the RTN has many sections to handle along the Andaman coast where Rohingya smuggling is a problem.

“I would like to show the public what we do as a routine for the security of the area, especially the problem about Rohingyas,” said Capt Chayut.

“There are many units of Navy Area 3 including a fleet of 16 ships, a Naval Air Section with reconnaissance aircrafts, and also an onshore team which works together with the Thai-Myanmar Coordination Center near the border in Ranong.

“However, we integrate the work of all teams for more effective results.

“Our ships are set along the Andaman coast to make sure that we will be there as soon as we find Rohingyas or any illegal activity in the area.”

The team then continued to travel by reconnaissance plane DO-228 of the Naval Air Section over Ranong, Surin Island, Tachai Island, Rawee Island, Lipe Island and Tarutao Island where there have also been reports about Rohingya boats.

“Rohingya people escaping from Rakhine, Myanmar and Bangladesh always use the Andaman coast, especially Ranong and Satun, as their route to Malaysia or Indonesia. Some of them are dropped somewhere in Thailand to be used in the labour trade.

“They often come in through Ranong. However, after navy forces have continued to strictly survey that area we are now told they escape through Racha Island. They then go via Lipe, Rawee and Tarutao Island in Satun to Songkhla and then to Malaysia,” said Capt Pongjak.

After the aerial survey, Capt Chayut concluded,

“As we flew over the north side of Ranong we could see saw the Tor993 boat checking a fishing boat as we continuously do.

“After that around Surin Island, we could also see the Royal Chonburi Tor991 rush to to catch a fishing boat to check. Then on the south side around Tarutao Island where we saw the Tor991 boat again.”

“As soon as receiev a report about suspect boats, a reconnaissance plane and a ship will be sent to check the area. The operation goes on 24/7,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin today told The Phuket News that the investigation into human trafficking is still continuing in the southernThailand.

“I have to go to Satun for an investigation this afternoon.

“There are now 51 people who we want to arrest, but this is still increasing. Of the 51 wanted we have now arrested 18 and are still looking for another 34 people.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/royal-thai-navy-area-3-survey-andaman-for-rohingya-52290.php


-- Phuket News 2015-05-13

[Local Drunk]

"Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin today told The Phuket News that the investigation into human trafficking is still continuing in the southernThailand."

So if I may ask the question to the Navy, the Army, the Police and the MP's of the deep South? How has this gone undetected and been allowed to escalate for years? You can't put a tarp on this now with a few arrests and expect it to go away. How far are you willing to go?

[Local Drunk]

There are big fish in small ponds that become small fish in big ponds. Then you get to to fish where everyone in the pond is big.

[chainarong]

Read this morning about Indon navy turning Burmese Rohingya refugee's back out to sea, they were headed for Malaysia , this is starting to get out of control, there is supposed to be 8 thousand plus refugee's bobbing around out there from Burma, Sri Lanka and other despot run places north of India.

[HappyinNE]

Read this morning about Indon navy turning Burmese Rohingya refugee's back out to sea, they were headed for Malaysia , this is starting to get out of control, there is supposed to be 8 thousand plus refugee's bobbing around out there from Burma, Sri Lanka and other despot run places north of India.

Looks like you moved Sir Lanka. Last I knew it was south of India.

[joebrown]

"However, we integrate the work of all teams for more effective results".

Typical BS.......big on talk, but so little to show, save for many abandoned, burnt and sunken craft!!

Edited May 13, 2015 by joebrown

[bangon04]

"“There are many units of Navy Area 3 including a fleet of 16 ships, a Naval Air Section with reconnaissance aircrafts, and also an onshore team which works together with the Thai-Myanmar Coordination Center near the border in Ranong.

“However, we integrate the work of all teams for more effective results."

and just wait until we receive our submarines..... then we will really be a force to be reckoned with.

[NamKangMan]

The eyes of the world are now watching Thailand on this issue, and in true Thai style, they need to be seen they are doing something about it, without actully doing anything about it.