PHUKET: Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister has been criticised for
making the media a scapegoat for Thailand's treatment of its captive
Rohingya.
Wisarn Techathirawat has been reported as saying that the presence of
the media encourages Rohingya refugees to ''act-up in front of the
camera'' in order to get sympathy.
The ''feigned pitifulness'' of the Rohingya reported by the press is
giving Thailand a bad name, Mr Wisarn was quoted as saying on a visit
this week to an immigration centre north of Phuket.
After a sustained protest on August 8 by the 261 Rohingya men who had
been kept in cramped cells at the Phang Nga centre for months,
authorities moved them out to smaller police stations.
Phil Robertson, Deputy Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch, said
today: ''It's nothing short of scandalous that a Thai deputy minister
who oversees a policy that locks away Rohingya in indefinite detention
has the gall to blame the media and the Rohingya themselves for giving
Thailand a bad name.
''The Thai government is doing that quite well themselves with their
inhumane treatment of the Rohingya - and insensitive comments like these
don't help the matter.
''The logical question the Deputy Minister should be now asked is
whether the eight Rohingya who have died of health problems in detention
were also playing for the camera.
''Rather than locking the Rohingya away and playing the blame game, the
Thai government should be providing temporary protection arrangements
that allow the Rohingya freedom of movement, registration and the right
to work, and full access to support services from international
organisations who are prepared to help.''
Two
Phuketwan reporters drove to the Phang Nga Immigration centre
as news of the August 8 protest became widespread. One reporter was
encouraged by officials to try to find a translator who could speak to
the Rohingya in their native language.
The Thai government has so far failed to provide translators so the
captive Rohingya and their jailers can understand each other.
Despite the inability to communicate, Khun Wisarn was reported to say
that ''when the media are not present, they [the Rohingya] act normally,
and even seem to enjoy their interaction with the officers.''
Yet without the media being present, Rohingya men, women and children
have consistently chosen to try to escape their indefinite detention in
Thailand, often straight into the arms of traffickers.
Reports by experienced journalists from Reuters, Associated Press, AFP,
the BBC, Channel 4, Australia's ABC and other international news
organisations have never hinted at Rohingya performing for the cameras.
Phuketwan editor Alan Morison said today: ''We cover the Rohingya
issue more thoroughly than most. We've never seen Rohingya play-acting.
''Khun Wisarn must be getting his information from subordinates looking
to blame someone, anyone, for Thailand's policy failures.
''We always have Thailand's best interests at heart and if Khun Wisarn
wants some information about what's troubling the Rohingya, we'd be
happy to give him a thorough, accurate briefing at any time.''
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