From the front page to the sub section of the local news ... Are we touching a raw nerve here ?
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Similans Tourists See Boat People MistreatedSunbathers, swimmers share with bound captives
Started by saneroad, 2009-01-15 07:19
#27
Ex Member Posted 2009-01-16 12:46:05
This rather amazing article appears on the BBC web site and describes how the Thai army treats refugee boat people that arrive on its shores unasked and without visa's. The solution it seems is to handcuff them, put them back in their boats, tow them out to sea and leave them!
http://news.bbc.co.u...sia/7830710.stm #28
Titanium Member Posted 2009-01-16 12:50:28
Thailand hates all foreigners. It is the most xenophobic country on Earth.
#29
Senior Member Posted 2009-01-16 13:23:32
I read that article with mounting dismay.
After this last year of political unrest, foreign currency falling against the baht, a growing realization that people were right when they told me that most relationships, both short and long term, were only as good as the financing underpinning them...now this. This is murder. Pure and simple.  Granted that dealing with economic refugees is a difficult issue for all countries, this response by Thailand's armed forces is simply unacceptable. #30
Star Member Posted 2009-01-16 13:32:33
Topic moved to News Clippings Forum.
/Moved. #31
Star Member Posted 2009-01-16 13:40:16
UN concerned at Thai treatment of asylum seekersAsia Pacific
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says it's concerned at media reports of Thai soliders detaining illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Burma and forcing them out to sea. The UNHCR's spokesperson for Asia based in Bangkok, Kitty McKenzie, has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program it's requesting clarification of these allegations from the Thai government. Some media organisations are reporting that the Thai soliders forced 500 asylum seekers into the sea on boats without engines. The illegal immigrants are reportedly recovering from acute dehydration in India's Andaman Islands and the Indonesian province of Aceh. Ms McKenzie says the reports are concerning. "We have requested the Thai government to take all measures necessary to ensure that the lives of the Rohinga boat people are not put at risk and we have reminded the Thai government that these people should be treated humanely in accordance with the international humantarian standards," said Ms McKenzie. Source: Radio Australia News - 16 January 2009 #32
Super Member Posted 2009-01-16 14:03:48
Reprehensible and disgusting. Sadly, the behavior is not surprising to those of us who have been in LOS for a while... Even sadder is the knowledge that there will be NO accountability. Very true, and very sad. Nothing will come of this. #33
Member Schmember Posted 2009-01-16 14:07:37
The only thing I can imagine that may pressure the government to crack down on these crimes against humanity is for Bangladeshi expats in the west to stage a protest at Thai embassies. Burmese expats are busy with bigger problems. It is true, sadly, murderous brutality is not very surprising here but what is needed is the light of the world on this, change cannot happen from within.
#34
Senior Member Posted 2009-01-16 14:09:19
Dozens of Rohingya refugees were beaten and detained for hours by the Thai Navy on an Andaman Sea tourist island, in scenes that unfolded in full view of foreign holidaymakers. Photographs of the December 23 incident in the Similan Islands were captured by Hong Kong-based tourist Andrew Jones. Mr Jones, whose name has been changed for the purposes of this article, described how guards armed with M-16 rifles forced the refugees to lie face down in the sand for at least two hours, then ''whipped'' them about the head with a strap if they tried to sit up or move. The refugees were naked to the waist and bound at their wrists. Some tourists appeared oblivious to the scenes just metres away, continuing to snorkel and sunbathe. Others who were shocked by the treatment of the men and tried to photograph the incident had their cameras snatched away by angry guards, who deleted the images. Full story and tourist photos of the incident at Phuketwan, and also appearing in the South China Morning Post this morning. This was just a demonstration of the a TAT promotion "Welcome to the Land of Smirks" A real example of a facet of the Facade of Thai culture "compassion and selflessness" for those less fortunate (ie don't have lots of money, the only true (god) thing that is respected by many, many Thais). #35
Moved On Posted 2009-01-16 14:11:39
 _4537912...d0212d9f.jpgGetting lots of BAD publicity in Europe ...from aunty.. Big Nail in the Coffin of Thailands record on Human Rights...... do they want to encourage 'Civilized tourists;....... ?????? or are they trying to emulate the DIRTY inhumain policies of Burma or North Korea...  ...or is it simply MP Rai.....Honestly, what is worse? The attitude of the Thai army or the quasi absence of reaction of the tourists sunbathing a few meters away ? #36
Senior Member Posted 2009-01-16 14:15:45
UN concerned at Thai treatment of asylum seekersAsia Pacific The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says it's concerned at media reports of Thai soliders detaining illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Burma and forcing them out to sea. The UNHCR's spokesperson for Asia based in Bangkok, Kitty McKenzie, has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program it's requesting clarification of these allegations from the Thai government. Some media organisations are reporting that the Thai soliders forced 500 asylum seekers into the sea on boats without engines. The illegal immigrants are reportedly recovering from acute dehydration in India's Andaman Islands and the Indonesian province of Aceh. Ms McKenzie says the reports are concerning. "We have requested the Thai government to take all measures necessary to ensure that the lives of the Rohinga boat people are not put at risk and we have reminded the Thai government that these people should be treated humanely in accordance with the international humantarian standards," said Ms McKenzie. Source: Radio Australia News - 16 January 2009 The Thai authorities will totally ignore the request by all international organisations because they know nothin's gonna happen, and people (like almost everyone) have short memories. They only obey two rules : 1. Loss of face (embarrassment at doing something wrong, in this case disgusting) and 2. Money!! Edited by barky, 2009-01-16 14:16:37. #37
Star Member Posted 2009-01-16 14:24:00
I don't think it will do much good to complain to the Thai gov't, since the military is above the gov't!
#38
Senior Member Posted 2009-01-16 14:29:26
What always surprises me is just how little international news coverage the excesses of the Thai Government/Military/Police get. Yes, indeed Guesthouse I too always wonder why there is never any repercussion from the international comunity. Why?, payoffs, building/defence contracts, hush money, free sex. What is it that the international politicians and big business get from Thailand to make them turn a blind eye to all Thailand's ugly indiscretions? #39
Member Schmember Posted 2009-01-16 14:33:20
What always surprises me is just how little international news coverage the excesses of the Thai Government/Military/Police get. Yes, indeed Guesthouse I too always wonder why there is never any repercussion from the international comunity. Why?, payoffs, building/defence contracts, hush money, free sex. What is it that the international politicians and big business get from Thailand to make them turn a blind eye to all Thailand's ugly indiscretions? #40
Advanced Member Posted 2009-01-16 21:22:58
Thailand hates all foreigners. It is the most xenophobic country on Earth. Very Very true. #41
Senior Member Posted 2009-01-16 21:46:04
Human Rights in S.E. asia generally speaking is non existant. The Burma situation is the most horrendous. However too many under the table business deals, not just with regional politicians but with big business in Australia and the US, mean that most governenments are happy to keep the country unstable and led by a junta. These poor fisherman will find no support apart from NGO's who are also considered in many ways a threat to the thai government. The only way they will recieve help is possibly with an international outcry and some serious protests from the big embassies.
I've heard nothing today. Still waiting, but not expecting much either. #42
Senior Member Posted 2009-01-17 08:49:38
On the Bangkok Post this morning...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/9873...gya-accusations Navy chief rejects Rohingya accusations The navy has rejected foreign media reports that sailors beat about 100 Rohingya asylum seekers and set them adrift in a simple boat in the Andaman sea. Navy chief Khamthon Phumhiran dismissed a report on the BBC news service in which the Rohingyas accused the navy of towing them out to sea in boats with no engines and no food. The report said the comments came from survivors who managed to drift to Indonesia and the Andaman islands. On Thursday, the South China Morning Post ran a front-page story saying dozens of refugees were detained and beaten on an Andaman island in full view of foreign holidaymakers. It was unclear when the incident took place. Adm Khamthon refused to accept the reports. He insisted the minority Burmese Rohingyas were not set adrift. Under no circumstances, he stressed, would the navy do anything so inhumane. Even in a state of war and enemy fighters were seen drifting in the sea, the navy would rescue them in keeping with humanitarian principles. A picture on the BBC website shows scores of Rohingyas lying face down on a beach on Koh Sai Daeng island off Ranong province. Adm Khamthon said the picture gave the wrong impression. The asylum seekers were made to lie down on the sand as a precaution to prevent them causing harm to security personnel who were outnumbered. There were about 20 navy personnel at the scene. He said the asylum seekers were later given shelter, food and water. ''But these pictures obviously did not come up in the media coverage,'' he said. #43
Advanced Member Posted 2009-01-17 12:07:21
Full story and background coverage at:
http://news.bbc.co.u...sia/7834075.stm Thailand's deadly treatment of migrants A shocking story is unfolding in Thailand. Migrants and refugees who turn up on its shores have testified that they are being sent back to sea in boats without engines, their hands tied, left to their fate. Hundreds are thought to have suffered this treatment - among them many Rohingya people of western Burma - and many have died. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok has been investigating what has been happening. The 46 Rohingyas who arrived by boat at Phrathong Island on Friday morning may be lucky. Like the hundreds of other asylum-seekers from this Burmese Muslim minority who have arrived on Thailand's Andaman Sea coast, they have been handed over to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), a military authority set up under the Cold War and still given sweeping powers to protect national security. That means they disappear into a black hole. No visits from lawyers or refugee advocates. The military can do what it likes with them. But after the spotlight now being shone onto the treatment of previous Rohingya groups, this one may be handled more leniently. Overboard Harsh treatment of asylum-seekers is nothing new in Thailand. But the allegations made by Rohingyas who have drifted hundreds of kilometres to the Andaman Islands and Indonesia's Aceh province are shocking. "We were put on a desolate island for eight days, beaten [and then] put in a flat and open-bodied boat with no engine" Mohammed, survivor Survivor's ordeal According to a local civic group, the Arakan Project, whose staff have done extensive interviews with some of the survivors, they were detained by the Thai security forces in late November and December last year as they arrived by boat. Instead of being handed over to the police or immigration for processing as illegal immigrants, they were instead taken by military units to an island called Koh Sai Daeng. They were detained there for several days, sleeping out in the open, their hands tied at night. On 18 December one group of just over 400 was put on a navy boat, which was towing a barge behind it, says Chris Lewa from the Arakan Project. Their hands were tied. Once out at sea they were ordered to move onto the barge at gunpoint. They refused. The Thai troops then tied the feet of four of them and threw them overboard. They drifted for more than 10. According to the testimony she has obtained, Ms Lewa says they sighted land - the Andaman Islands - on around the 12th day. Fearful that the current would sweep their barge away, many of the exhausted and dehydrated Rohingyas leapt into the sea to try to make it to land. Fewer than 100 were found on board by the Indian coastguard, although an unknown number was also picked up from the sea or on beaches. Briefer telephone interviews with survivors by the BBC have confirmed this account. Survivors who reached Aceh have told the local media the same thing. In all, more than 800 Rohingyas were expelled in this way in December. Hundreds may have died. Denial The local commander of ISOC in Ranong, Col Manas Khongpan, has denied these allegations. He told the BBC that illegal immigrants are never held by his troops. Indian coastguards bring in a boat of migrants off the Andaman Islands Some of the lucky survivors were picked up by the Indian coastguard But that contradicts comments the BBC has been given by other military and police officials, who say all Rohingya boat-people are now being handled by ISOC. Some of those officials, who did not want to be named, confirmed that Rohingyas had indeed been set adrift at sea, with little food and water. They explained that Rohingyas are seen as a greater security threat than the tens of thousands of other illegal migrants, because they are Muslim, because they tend to arrive in large numbers at one time, and because they are almost exclusively men. Immigration officials told us there is no evidence to support the allegation made by some in the military that Rohingyas have gone to Thailand's deep south to join the Islamic insurgency there. The officials have told us that while most of the Rohingya want to go to Malaysia - where there is already a community 20,000 strong and the prospect of well-paid jobs - increasing numbers are staying in Thailand. The official figure last year was 4,886, and the unofficial figure may be much higher. Military's power The Thai government has now issued a statement saying it is investigating all the facts surrounding these allegations. It has promised to re-assess the situation of all illegal immigrants in Thailand, numbering perhaps three or four million, most of them from Burma, and to treat them in accordance with humanitarian principles. Whether it can truly hold the military to account though is open to doubt. In many areas of Thailand the army operates with little civilian oversight. It has huge secret budgets, and extensive business interests. The current Democrat-led coalition was stitched together last month thanks to the intervention of the powerful army commander General Anupong Paochinda - he may well resist any calls for his men to be brought to justice over these allegations, as his predecessors have. But it is also worth remembering that under the most recent constitution the most senior commander of ISOC is, in fact, the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He has made the rule of law one of the core principles of his administration. Any crimes committed by ISOC personnel, whether against Thais or illegal migrants, will ultimately lie at his door. Full story and background coverage at: http://news.bbc.co.u...sia/7834075.stm #44
Advanced Member Posted 2009-01-17 12:25:39
Another eye witness report with pictures from the Similan can be found here:
http://khaolakforum.de/index.php?page=Thre...p;threadID=3685 #45
Super Member Posted 2009-01-17 12:35:28
Note the different photo that accompanies CNN's report of the Thai Navy's denial.
ScreenHunter_01_Jan._17_12.32.gif 62.51K
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#46
Gone Member Posted 2009-01-17 12:42:01
On Thursday, the South China Morning Post ran a front-page story saying dozens of refugees were detained and beaten on an Andaman island in full view of foreign holidaymakers. It was unclear when the incident took place. The SCMP named the place where it happend, ''Donald Duck Bay'' on Koh Baed. The all story came from a Hong Kong resident who were able to take picture of what was going on a few meters from him and then forward them to the SCMP. Other tourists had their camera snatch by the army and the pictures deleted. #47
Advanced Member Posted 2009-01-17 12:54:30
On Thursday, the South China Morning Post ran a front-page story saying dozens of refugees were detained and beaten on an Andaman island in full view of foreign holidaymakers. It was unclear when the incident took place. The SCMP named the place where it happend, ''Donald Duck Bay'' on Koh Baed. The all story came from a Hong Kong resident who were able to take picture of what was going on a few meters from him and then forward them to the SCMP. Other tourists had their camera snatch by the army and the pictures deleted. The pics in the link from the Khao Lak forum is from Donal Duck Bay, island No 8 (Koh Baed) at the Similan islands http://khaolakforum.de/index.php?page=Thre...p;threadID=3685 It was taken by a tourist from Sweden. Apparently a lot of pics were taken from different people. Also in the thread in the khaolakforum you will find pics of another guy from Germany. #48
Gone Member Posted 2009-01-17 13:12:13
The current Democrat-led coalition was stitched together last month thanks to the intervention of the powerful army commander General Anupong Paochinda - he may well resist any calls for his men to be brought to justice over these allegations, as his predecessors have. But it is also worth remembering that under the most recent constitution the most senior commander of ISOC is, in fact, the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. I look forward to see these two guys in court, the two last PM were kicked out for less than that. But somehow I've the feeling that it won't happen anytime soon. It seems that since they don't need anymore their moral high ground, they have store it together with all the nice stories the yellow people fed us with when they were having their great party on our expenses. #49
Libertarian Member Posted 2009-01-17 16:01:55
The current Democrat-led coalition was stitched together last month thanks to the intervention of the powerful army commander General Anupong Paochinda - he may well resist any calls for his men to be brought to justice over these allegations, as his predecessors have. But it is also worth remembering that under the most recent constitution the most senior commander of ISOC is, in fact, the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. I look forward to see these two guys in court, the two last PM were kicked out for less than that. But somehow I've the feeling that it won't happen anytime soon. It seems that since they don't need anymore their moral high ground, they have store it together with all the nice stories the yellow people fed us with when they were having their great party on our expenses. Waa-waa-waa-waa...as if the current PM has any influence on how badly the Navy or Army treats immigrants...it has always been deplorable and it should be corrected. But I'm sure you have made many posts in the past on how bad the treatment was of the immigrants under Thaksin and how he should be responsible for it... 
#50
Star Member Posted 2009-01-17 17:44:00
Note to self: Remember not to overstay visa!
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