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Press Release by Refugee International

Mon, 01/12/2009 - 00:24

Policy of Pushing Boat People Out To Sea Must End Immediately

Washington, D.C. – The Government of Thailand should instruct its Army to desist from its new and troubling policy of pushing refugees and migrants intercepted on boats back out to sea.  The boat people are primarily stateless Burmese Rohingya escaping severe oppression and harsh poverty at home, but also include some Bangladeshi migrants.  Both groups board boats of varying seaworthiness with the aim of finding security and economic opportunity in Thailand and Malaysia. The Thai government is detaining them on a remote island and then forcing them back out to sea.  The policy endangers their lives, and exposes them to the risk of capsizing or sinking. Please click here to red full------

 

 

 

 

Press Release by Thai Government

January 28, 2009, 8:57 am

- The Issue of Illegal Migrants in the Andaman Sea
The issue of illegal migrants in the Andaman Sea, of which the Rohingyas are the biggest group, is one which Thailand, and other countries in the region, has been facing for a number of years. More recently, the flows have numbered several thousands each year....

- Foreign Ministry invites Ambassadors from concerned countries to discuss the Rohingya Illegal migrants issue

January 26, 2009, 2:25 pm


  On 23 January 2009, as earlier instructed by Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, invited the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Malaysia as well as the Charge d’affaires of Myanmar to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consultations on the issue of Rohingya illegal migrants.   

- Case of Illegal Migrants entering the Kingdom via the Andaman Sea

January 16, 2009, 6:56 pm

1. Regarding recent news reporting on groups of illegal migrants found in the Andaman Sea, Thai officials are currently investigating and verifying all the facts and surrounding circumstances.

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UNHCR Press Release

UNHCR seeks access to 126 Muslim Rohingya boat people in Thailand

GENEVA, January 20 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency on Tuesday asked the Thai government for access to 126 detained Muslim Rohingya boat people in order to assess their situation and determine whether any of them are in need of international protection.

This follows UNHCR's expression of strong concern to the government last week over allegations that large groups of Rohingya boat people from Myanmar were intercepted in Thai waters, towed out to sea and left to die.

"According to information from our sources, a group of 80 Rohingya boat people are being held on Koh Sai Daeng Island off the Thai coast in the Andaman Sea. A further 46 Rohingya who were intercepted on a boat last Friday were reportedly handed over to Thai military authorities, and we are trying to determine where they are now," said UNHCR spokesman, Ron Redmond.