Rohingya Dies in Thai Hospital, Crowded Conditions Threaten Others

By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian Friday, March 22, 2013 PHUKET: A Rohingya man has died while in the care of Thai authorities, hospital sources confirmed today. The man, identified as Muhamad Usen, aged about 30, was taken from the Immigration facility in Sadao, where he was being held, to Had Yai Hospital on March 18. He died the next day, the source said. On Wednesday, his body was handed over to local Muslims for burial. It is believed he came from the troubled township of Sittwe, in Burma. The man was not recorded as a Rohingya, but as a ''Burmese Muslim.'' This bureaucratic lie is an indication that Thai authorities now support the Burmese Government's racist contention that Rohingya do not exist as a separate ethnic group. Another source told Phuketwan that the man's death was related to untreated injuries inflicted by people-traffickers while he was being held in a secret camp near the Thai-Malaysia border. According to the source, several other men with severe injuries from traffickers are being held in Sadao Immigration. They have yet to be seen by a doctor, the source said. More deaths in custody are feared. Hundreds of Rohingya men are being held in overcrowded conditions at Immigration centres around Thailand. Conditions are reported to be especially bad for 270 men confined in an overcrowded space at Phang Nga Immigration centre, north of Phuket. The men are among about 1700 Rohingya who were either ''rescued'' from smugglers' camps or arrived in Thailand on flimsy boats in January. About 300 women and children are part of the groups and are being held in slightly better conditions at family welfare refuges. However, at least six boys are known to have fled from a family centre in Phang Nga, north of Phuket - probably with the help of local people-traffickers. Thailand's Government has undertaken to hold the Rohingya for up to six months to assess their status and determine their futures, working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs. Reports relayed from the captive Rohingya indicate they are growing increasingly frustrated as the weeks pass. Their aim remains to travel on from Thailand to Malaysia, where some have family or friends waiting. Three boatloads of Rohingya are reported to have arrived in Malaysia in the past 10 days. Record numbers of Rohingya have been ''helped on'' towards Malaysia since October by the Thai military as Burmese authorities continue to tacitly support ethnic cleansing by local Buddhists in Rakhine state. Other stories Fears of Boatpeople Deaths in Custody Aid Groups Alarmed at Isolation of Rohingyas Rohingha Deaths in Custody: Human Rights Blow 'Withered' Rohingya Rescued from Ranong Rohingya 'Shooting' North of Phuket: Numbers Game Verifying Details Boatpeople 'Shooting' Leaves Big Questions Boatpeople Deaths North of Phuket: Navy Probably Trafficked Hundreds And Sank Boats, Say Villagers Rights Group Demands Inquiry into Boatpeople 'Shooting' North of Phuket Accusations of Abuses Require Investigation Military 'Opened Fire, Killed Rohingya' More Rohingya Land on Phuket: Police Search for Surin Boatpeople Horror at Sea: 98 Bodies Thrown Overboard as Boatpeople Perish from Thirst, Starvation Boy Born on Boat Has Uncertain Future Captive Boatpeople in Thailand Plead in Secret Petitions for Access to UNHCR, Families Vice Admiral Acknowledges Trafficking of Rohingya Boatpeople + Comments. The death person name was Mohamed Hussain s/o Khala Meya ,vill:Ambari ,Sisttwe. His wife and five children live at IDP camp .He was sick when I visited Sadao IDC.There are many inmates fall sick due to long term living the crowded environment at different IDCs.The Rohingyas fled from genocide to save their lives only. They are political Refugees.They must be kept at Refugee camp. Thia authority has already allowed UNHCR to determine Refugee since last month but we didn't see any satisfactory result yet .The UNHCR must finish their job before six month time frame of Thai government. The UNHCR have their own procedural of work to handle the Refugees rather than include and talk to other NGOs which delay and complicated the case. Every so called HELP ON policy towards Rohingyas is not international standard .Its makes Rohingyas fall at the hands of traffickers. According to the Phuket wan news ,it is clear that many families,women ,minor children and old people are seen among the boat people. How some neighboring countries still say Rohingyas are economic migrants. It is the moral duty of every civil society to save the Rohingyas .There lives are every where very dire. Posted by Maung Kyaw Nu,President,Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand. on March 24, 2013 21:33