Fleeing Rohingya recaptured after mystery escape

Bangkok Post 

11 Jan 2021

Nujaree Raekrun

District officials and police check a room in Chien Yai district of Nakhon Si Thammarat where three Rohingya women were detained on Saturday and escaped from on Sunday. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun) 

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Three Rohingya women were re-arrested on Monday after mysteriously escaping from a room where they had been detained.

Chien Yai district chief Kittipong Rongdet said on Monday the three women were apprehended by police in Cha-uat district on Sunday night, along with a Rohingya man he described as a "middle man". All were sent back to Chien Yai for interrogation, he added.

19 Rohingya held in Bangkok for illegal entry

Bangkok Post 

9 Jan 2021 

Seven test positive for Covid after raid in Don Muang district raises new concerns about human trafficking

A picture taken by the Immigration Bureau on Jan 3 and released on Saturday shows immigration officers watching over a group of Rohingya migrants who were arrested in Don Muang district of Bangkok after being smuggled overland from Rakhine state in Myanmar. (Immigration Bureau handout via AFP)
 

Nineteen Rohingya migrants have been arrested in Bangkok for illegal entry to Thailand and a Thai woman accused of housing them has also been detained, police said on Saturday.

The arrests have raised concerns about trafficking routes for the Muslim minority fleeing Myanmar, at a time when illegal migrants from that country have been linked to a second wave of coronavirus infections accross Thailand.

Thailand arrests 19 Rohingya, Thai woman for illegal entry

FRANCH 24 

Bangkok (AFP)

09/01/2021

 

Immigration officers watch over the group of Rohingya who are said to have illegally entered Thailand after being smuggled overland from Myanmar's Rakhine state Handout THAILAND IMMIGRATION BUREAU/AFP

Nineteen Rohingya and a Thai woman accused of housing them have been arrested for illegal entry to Thailand, police said Saturday, as concerns grow about trafficking routes for the Muslim minority fleeing Myanmar.

The embattled Rohingya have long faced persecution in Myanmar, where they are denied freedom of movement and citizenship, and lack access to work, healthcare and schools.

A 2017 military crackdown in western Rakhine state sent almost 750,000 fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, while many choose to embark on treacherous journeys with human smugglers to reach Malaysia and Indonesia, sometimes going through Thailand. 

Two dozen Rohingya refugees die after jumping from boat near Thailand

MALAYSIA SUN
Voice of America
27 Jul 2020,

• Malaysian officials say 24 Rohingya migrants are feared drowned off a Malaysian resort island near Thailand.
• Malaysian authorities launched a search and rescue operation on Sunday for the Rohingya refugees who went missing after jumping into the water from a boat and attempting to swim to the ...
• Malaysia's coastguard said 25 people had tried to swim to shore late Saturday, but only one of them, identified as Nor Hossain, 27, made it to the island.

Weapons originating from China: India seeks probe findings from Thailand, Myanmar

OneIndia
Vicky Nanjappa
Tuesday, July 21, 2020

New Delhi, July 21: India has asked Thailand and Myanmar to share the details of a probe in which illegal arms originating from China were seized. It may be recalled that the Royal Thai Army had intercepted a big consignment of illegal arms and ammunition. The ammunition having its origin in China was smuggled into Myanmar.

Representational Image

New Delhi's envoy to Bangkok, Suchitra Durai held a meeting with Unsit Sampuntharat, governor of the Tok province of Thailand. Local police and immigration officials too were present at the meeting. India is keen to find out about the renewed flow of illegal weapons that originate from China.

Thailand: Let UN Refugee Agency Screen Rohingya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

 May 21, 2020

End Inhumane Indefinite Detention of Asylum Seekers 

Rohingya refugees sit behind bars at a police station in Satun province, Thailand, June 12, 2019. © 2019 AP Photo

(Bangkok) – Thai authorities should allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) unhindered access to Rohingya from Myanmar to determine whether they qualify for refugee status, Human Rights Watch said today. The government’s inhumane policy of holding Rohingya arriving in Thailand in indefinite detention should be immediately repealed.

The latest group of Rohingya arrived in Thailand by land, crossing from Myanmar into Mae Sot district of Tak province on May 20, 2020. Thai authorities arrested at least 12 Rohingya and sent them to the Mae Sot immigration detention facility. Approximately 200 Rohingya are being held in immigration detention and other facilities across Thailand.

Another Rohingya held in Malaysia

Bangkok Post
 9 Jan 2020

Thai police show the image of Murabaek Suson, an illegal Rohingya immigrant who was arrested in Kedah state, Malaysia. (Photo by Assawin Pakkawan)

SONGKHLA: An illegal Rohingya migrant fleeing a detention camp in Thailand has been arrested in Malaysia.

Thai police said on Thursday Murabaek Suson, 17, was captured by Malaysian authorities in Kedah state and wouldl be sent to Thailand.

Thailand can 'do more' for Rohingya

Bangkok Post
Thana Boonlert
5 Nov 2019

Muhammad Faruk Khan, chairman of Bangladesh's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, shares his views on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees in light of the 35th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, which ended on Monday, in an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post.

What was the outcome of the meeting with the Thai government on the Rohingya crisis?

I was very happy to meet with the [Thai] foreign affairs committee. I am looking forward to meeting with the chairman of the Senate and the parliament speaker. I am happy that they have a good understanding of the Rohingya issue. I know that Thailand had the same experience more than 30 years ago, when people from Myanmar took shelter in Thailand. You have been housing them for 35 years. Thailand understands what Bangladesh is facing.

Rohingya Association Thailand's statement at 35th ASEAN Summit statement

PRACHATAI
Opinion
By Rohingya Association Thailand 
Fri, 1 Nov 2019 

As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convenes the 35th ASEAN Summit during 2-4 November 2019 in Thailand, the leaders of the group and partners are pursuing an agenda to ensure ASEAN is a people-centered grouping dedicated to sustainable development. Head of government from country will discuss the Rakhine Crisis and the fate of nearly one million Rohingya refugees being shelter in Bangladesh.

Thailand Offers Persecuted Rohingya Little Hope

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Sunai Phasuk Senior Researcher,

Asia Division SunaiBKK


Prime Minister’s Racist Comments Reflect Inhumane Asylum Seeker Policy

Rohingya refugees sit behind bars at a police station in Satun province, southern Thailand on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. © 2019 AP Photo/Sumeth Panpetch 

Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha’s racist slurs directed at the Rohingya are bad enough. But they are made even worse because they reflect the Thai government’s cruel policy toward Rohingya asylum seekers who take perilous journeys to escape persecution and serious abuses in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

PM Prayuth calls to expedite probe, provide aid for Rohingyas stranded in Satun

FMT
Bernama
June 13, 2019

A Rohingya woman and her baby are detained in a police station in Rawi Island, Thailand after they were found on a fishing boat bound for Malaysia. (Reuters pic)

BANGKOK:Thailand prime minister General Prayuth Chan o-cha has instructed relevant authorities to expedite investigations on a group of 65 Rohingyas stranded at Rawi Island off the coast of Satun in southern Thailand on Tuesday. 

Fishing boat carrying 64 Rohingya Muslims found shipwrecked on Thai island

Evening Standard
Bonnie Christian
11/06/2019

A fishing boat which according to officials was smuggling Rohingya refugees is seen stranded at Rawi island. ( REUTERS )  

A fishing boat carrying 64 Rohingya Muslim refugees has been found beached on an island in southern Thailand, officials have said.

The chief of Tarutao National Marine Park, Kanjanapan Kamhaeng, said a boat carrying the Rohingya - 28 men, 31, women and five children - was discovered on Tuesday morning.

ASEAN wants to create ‘safe zones’ for Rohingya.

AA

Anadolu Agency

Md. Kamruzzaman |04.04.2019

Regional organization wants to create welcome environment in Myanmar where Rohingya might feel safe to go back, says FM

DHAKA, Bangladesh 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wants to play a leading role in the repatriation of Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh, a minister said late Wednesday.

“Thailand is the current chair of ASEAN. They are willing to take a leading role in the Rohingya repatriation process,” Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said at a press briefing following a meeting with his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai in Dhaka, local media reported.

Human Traffickers Accused of 'Crimes Against Humanity' in Thailand and Malaysia

TIME
By Amy Gunia
Updated: March 28, 2019

 

Roshid Alam holds photograph of his son, Mohammad Faisal, who was only 14 when he and 170 other Rohingya got on a boat in 2012 bound for Malaysia in this photo in Shamlapur, Bangladesh on July, 4. 2015.
Shazia Rahman—Getty Images

Human rights experts say a transnational criminal syndicate committed crimes against humanity in trafficking Rohingya Muslims who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar, as well as Bangladeshi nationals trying to reach Malaysia.

Traffickers allegedly murdered, enslaved, imprisoned, tortured, raped, starved, and forced displacement of their victims between 2012 to 2015, according to a joint investigation by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and Bangkok-based rights group Fortify Rights.

Traffickers committed crimes against humanity by enslaving and killing Rohingya, say rights groups.

The Telegraph
 27 MARCH 2019 •

By Nicola Smith
 

Thousands of Rohingya were crammed onto dangerous boats by traffickers CREDIT: ADIB CHOWDHURY/AFP

H

uman trafficking gangs are guilty of crimes against humanity for their brutal treatment of vulnerable Rohingya refugees trying to flee to Thailand and Malaysia, say human rights groups who released a harrowing new investigation on Wednesday. 

Asean Rakhine approach: Slow but sure

Bangkok Post

19 Feb 2019 

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has discussed Rakhine state affairs with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other Asean leaders including, amidst signs of slow Asean progress. (Photo provided)

By October 2012, an exodus of refugees from Myanmar's Rakhine state had dominated global headlines throughout the year. Asean was under heavy pressure from the international community to do something about it.

Asean hobbles itself

 

29.01.2019 , OPINION

Thailand's first test as this year's Asean chair occurred two weeks ago in Chiang Mai. It was not a resounding success. At the 10-nation group's annual retreat of foreign ministers, the Rohingya issue was at the top of the agenda. But what the participants had agreed upon -- a spirited discussion -- quickly petered out. Now, the issue has been once again overtaken by the United Nations.

ASEAN meet rocks no boats on Rakhine, South China Sea.

THE MYANMAR NEWS
AP| 21 JAN 2019

 

 

 

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday hewed to the group’s practice of reaching the least provocative consensus possible in discussions of such divisive issues as Myanmar’s Rakhine crisis and China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry continues ban on UN Special Rapporteur Lee.

NYAN LYNN AUNG 15 JAN 2019,

THE government said it would not rescind its ban on UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee from entering Myanmar, despite her recent request, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday.

Surakiart urges Thai pressure to fix Rohingya crisis

9 Jan 2019

Former Thai foreign minister and former president of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council Surakiart Sathirathai urged Thailand to use the opportunity as Asean chair to persuade Nay Pyi Taw to develop a roadmap to ease the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine state.