Thursday, 19 December 2013

Thailand] Drop defamation, computer crimes charges against Phuket journalists

By seapa

Alerts, Campaigns, Media Law
December 19, 2013

Two journalists based in Phuket, Thailand were charged yesterday under the country’s controversial Computer Crimes Act for relaying a report implicating the Thai Navy in human trafficking.

Journalists Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian of online the tourism news site Phuketwan appeared before a Phuket police station to be fingerprinted after receiving summonses for an online article published on 17 July titled, “Thai Military Profiting from Trade in Boatpeople, Says Special Report.”

The article quoted extensively from a Reuters article titled, “Special Report: Thai authorities implicated in Rohingya Muslim smuggling network”.
The article describes the role of security authorities – not just Thai and not just the Navy – who profit from the exodus of Rohingya from Rakhine state in eastern Myanmar, to escape persecution and violence.

Captain Panlob Komtonlok of Royal Thai Navy 3, which has jurisdiction over the Andaman coast, filed the criminal charges under section 14 Thailand’s controversial Computer Crimes Act of 2007 and for damaging the reputation of the service.
Morison and Chutima are scheduled to appear before the court on 24 December for indictment. If found guilty they could face a jail term of up to five years and a 100,000 baht (approximately USD 3,300) fine.

SEAPA condemns this unjustified action, which is a form of intimidation against members of the media who publish critical stories against state authorities.
If the Thai Navy wants to disprove its tolerance of the acts of its personnel described in the article, a better approach would have been to conduct or allow an impartial official investigation into the matter of complicity on the crime of human trafficking against Rohingya refugees.

Targeting a small online news outlet for publishing what is essentially a humanitarian story reflects a bully’s strategy to silence critics, sending a strong warning that anyone who expresses something they disapprove of will be prosecuted. The Navy is thus using its authority for the wrong purpose of silencing critics instead of for upholding accountability of the conduct its forces and its overall duty to respect human rights.
Their action also reinforces the criticism against the Computer Crimes Act of 2007, which makes online users liable for content originally published by others. While it is not clear at this point whether similar charges will be filed against Reuters or their reporters, we wish to reiterate that such an approach is flawed.

SEAPA also reiterates the media and human rights community’s long-standing call to decriminalize defamation, in order to better uphold the right to freedom of opinion expression and press freedom.

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

worldview : Ethnic Violence in Myanmar / Urgent need to act

Editorial»worldview : Ethnic Violence in Myanmar

Urgent need to act
The New York Times

DEC 16 - Anti-Muslim sentiment in Myanmar is threatening to derail the significant progress the country has made toward democracy since the military junta formally stepped down in 2011. In June and in October 2012, rampages in Rakhine State against Rohingyas, a minority Muslim group, left scores dead. A far smaller number of Buddhists have also been victims of lethal violence. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have fled Myanmar, a Buddhist-majority nation. Most sought asylum in Bangladesh and Malaysia. Recently, thousands have taken refuge in or been forcibly displaced to camps within Myanmar.

A group of radical Buddhist monks known as 969 and their de facto leader Ashin Wirathu are to blame for fanning the flames of anti-Muslim hysteria. But the government of Myanmar is also culpable: Despite a stated commitment to safeguarding human rights and promoting democracy and the rule of law, the government has taken no real action to address the violence or stem hate speech. In May, a law was revived limiting Rohingyas to two children, a direct violation of their basic human rights.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who is expected to run for election in Myanmar’s 2015 presidential elections, has been tragically silent. She rejects Human Rights Watch’s charge that the plight of the Rohingyas amounts to ethnic cleansing.

The United Nations passed a resolution on Nov. 21 calling on Myanmar to grant Rohingyas citizenship—denied them under a 1982 law. The government of Myanmar has rejected the resolution.

President Thein Sein needs to act urgently to investigate human rights abuses against Rohingyas, hold perpetrators to account, allow humanitarian groups access to camps and protect basic human rights, including the right to citizenship for people who have called Myanmar home for generations.
Posted on: 2013-12-17

US blacklists Myanmar firms for NKorea arms trade

Dec 17, 12:52 PM EST

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States imposed sanctions Tuesday on a Myanmar military officer and three companies it accuses of involvement in the continuing, illicit arms trade with North Korea.

The designations do not directly target Myanmar's government but will deepen doubts over the nation's compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Cutting Myanmar's military ties with North Korea has been a key goal of the U.S. policy to end Myanmar's long international isolation after its democratic reforms.

In response to the reforms in the country also known as Burma, Washington has eased its longstanding restrictions on trade and investment, although not on export of arms. In a sign of enduring U.S. concerns, Treasury has periodically expanded the blacklist of individuals and companies it considers to be bad actors.

As of Tuesday, they include Lt. Col. Kyaw Nyunt Oo, said to act on behalf of the Burmese Directorate of Defense Industries, or DDI, which is already sanctioned. Its chief, a general, was blacklisted in July.

Treasury also targeted Soe Min Htike Co. Ltd. and Excellence Mineral, describing them in Tuesday's statement as Myanmar companies working with North Korean officials to import materiel for military weapons programs as recently this June; and Asia Metal, said to have constructed buildings and supplied construction materials for a DDI factory compound where approximately 30 North Koreans were still working as of December 2012.

Myanmar's government has said its arms trade with North Korea has stopped and it complies with the U.N. sanctions which are intended to deny Pyongyang revenue for expanding nuclear and ballistic missile programs. U.S. officials say Myanmar has curtailed the trade, but not ended it.

"The revenues from these continuing military sales directly support North Korea's illicit activities," Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen said in a statement. "We will continue to target this activity in Burma, and the region, as we work with our international partners to shut down North Korea's dangerous and destabilizing weapons proliferation."

Designation of a company or individual on the Treasury list prohibits U.S. persons from transactions with them, and freezes any assets they may have subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

The military cooperation with North Korea was forged during Myanmar's international isolation. The State Department has said that in late 2008, when Myanmar officers visited Pyongyang, they signed a memorandum of understanding with North Korea on assistance to build medium range, liquid-fueled ballistic missiles.

Sunday, 15 December 2013

Indonesia Should Play Leading Role in Solving Rohingya Problem: Expert

Sun, December 15 2013 18:38 | 477 Views

Friday, 13 December 2013

Boatpeople Passing Through Secret Thai Camps in Record Numbers: No Reaction So Far to UN, US Investigation Plea

UNHCR IS VERY WEAK AND SLOW IN THIALAD.20,OOO ROHINGYAS ARE AT TRAFFICKERS HANDS NOW! RAPING ,DING ,BEATING ,SELLING TO TO TRAWLERS IS DAILY !

According to our report from ground ,the figure is more . Around 20000 thousands Rohingya escaped from genocide by boat/ship within November to now . We have got around the clock news from South to North Arakan. From North Arakan ,most of the small boat people are transferred into big ship from Thailand in the middle of the sea. The brokers arrange the big ship where 500-700 persons can be loaded.They are mostly safe and arrive safely at Thai coast. The Rohingyas from South Arakan have no connection with Thai Ship so they use very small fishing boats to voyage to Thailand . Most of the boats are not reachd to Thai cost whether drowned or voyage to other direction due to bad weather or lack of fuel.This kinds of boat people are hardly documented. The Burmese authority indirectly pushing the Rohingya to leave the country.On the other side, traffickers are very desperate due to the political unrest in Thailand.They are well organized and conducting trafficking . The misery of boat people are very dire at the concentration camp of traffickers in the south Thailand. The death news and missing news are always heard. Some of them are believed to be sold to deathly fishing trawlers. The UNHCR is very weak and slow to take action in this regards in Thailand. We don't know yet how many Rohingyas are in the IDCs and police custody in Thailand now. There were more than 2000 Rohingya detainees in Thai custody some months ago. We would like to know details of them . If civil society and UN are ignoring our call for urgent solution of trafficking cases and protect the Rohingya from genocide ,the influx of Rohingya and death tools will be more higher in this sailing seasons. Therefore ,we are ardently asking to tackle the Rohingya case internationally.We don't know where to proceed to ask help in this critical times. We have went to US and UK Embassies asked their good office to keep contact to the Secretary General of United Nations for international protection.The only option to stop Rohingya tragedy is sending UN Forces to Rohingya area for protection and tracing out human traffickers .The civil society of Thailand should come forwards in this regards.

Commented by Maung Kyaw Nu at Phuket wan news.

Boatpeople Passing Through Secret Thai Camps in Record Numbers: No Reaction So Far to UN, US Investigation Plea

By Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison

Friday, December 13, 2013

Latest Record numbers of Rohingya boatpeople are taking to the Andaman Sea and most are believed to be being processed through secret camps hidden in the jungles of Thailand. PLS read here -click more More »

credit :Phuketwan.

Thursday, 12 December 2013

Organization of Islamic Conference Ihsanoglu highlights major achievements as OIC secretary general

Organization of Islamic Conference

Ihsanoglu highlights major achievements as OIC secretary general

Tuesday, 10 December 2013 18:59

Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday, 07 Safar 1434/ 10 December 2013 (IINA) – In his last speech as secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu gave an account of the major achievements and initiatives undertaken during his tenure at the opening of the 40th session of the foreign ministers from the OIC members states in Conakry, capital of Guinea on Monday.

The secretary general presented the progress made in addressing Islamophobia, promoting economic cooperation, advancing science and technology and developing education and health in the member states. Ihsanoglu summed up some of the OIC’s achievements during his tenure as the following: Consensual passage of UN Human Rights Council resolution 16/18 on combating religious intolerance, adoption of the OIC Water Vision, establishment of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, the Women Development Organization, and specialized department on humanitarian activities. He said a draft statute of the Islamic Organization for Food Security is up for approval at the Conakry session and the Islamic States Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (IBRAF) and the OIC Media Forum (OMF) have submitted their applications for OIC Affiliate memberships.

“I can say with full confidence that your organization has developed and matured into a reputable organization and has so far passed successfully through myriad challenges. During this period of nine years, the OIC has waded its way into the 21^st century in a much better standing. It is now playing a much more important role in the political, economic, cultural and social fields to forge Islamic solidarity,” Ihsanoglu said.

After thanking the people and leadership of Guinea for hosting the 40th session in Conakry and thanking Djibouti, the chair of the previous session, Ihsanoglu highlighted the outstanding progress made in implementing the Ten-Year Program of Action adopted in Makkah in 2005 while acknowledging with profound gratitude the support and interest he was awarded by the member states towards reaching these goals. “We have witnessed a clear demonstration of greater political will by the member states to engage more actively and concretely in the activities and programs of the OIC which has witnessed a remarkable growth and expansion during this period. We are here to build on the important achievements of the previous CFM,” he said. He urged the member states to continue their support to the activities and programs of the OIC.
Pointing to the main achievements, at the international level, OIC’s process of reform and global political engagement led powers of the international community to establish or upgrade their relations with the OIC as a sign of their interest in engaging and cooperating with the organization on a number of fronts, he said. The convening by the UN Security Council on 28 October 2013 of an unprecedented special high-level session on the cooperation between the OIC and UN is a clear testimony of the unique standing the OIC has embraced.
As for the cause of Palestine, the raison d’être of the OIC, it has witnessed important developments in recent times. International unanimity on recognizing the State of Palestine as member of the UN General Assembly on 29 November 2012 was a major achievement that needs to be built on in order to secure more support to the Palestinian people and their legitimate national rights, stressed Ihsanoglu.
To examine the grave situation of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque and consider possible actions to counter Israeli violations, he invited the member states to participate actively in the proceedings of the special session to be held during the current session with a view to elaborating a program of action, including practical measures, that would put an end to continued Israeli violations in Jerusalem. As a matter of urgency, he reiterated his call on all member states, institutions and funds to take the initiative and provide the financing required to implement the strategic plan for the development of vital sectors in Jerusalem as a means to unite our efforts and focus our interventions in a way commensurate with challenges the holy city is facing.

He spoke about his recent visit to Palestine in August 2013 and his personal observation of the impending Judaization risk at Jerusalem and the stifling conditions on the ground suffered by the people under Israeli occupation. Another important trip he undertook recently is to Myanmar, heading an OIC ministerial Contact Group delegation in November. Throughout the meetings with officials, civil society groups and Rakhine community members he expressed OIC’s wish to open channels of communication and dialogue with Myanmar as well as its readiness to contribute to the humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to all affected people and communities without any discrimination. He also stressed the need to clarify the misperception and misunderstanding on both sides in order to build trust. At the conclusion of the visit a Joint Communiqué was issued with the Government of Myanmar, which outlined the framework of their joint cooperation. “Through constructive diplomacy, consistent pressure and international engagement a historic breakthrough was achieved in OIC relations with Myanmar.”

Following the visit, Ihsanoglu wrote a letter to the President thanking him for his hospitality and proposing three projects: a technical training college and a medical facility in Rakhine State by the Islamic Development Bank and an international symposium on the relations of Buddhism and Islam through a historical perspective by IRCICA. He urged the Member States to provide urgent humanitarian aid and contribute to socio-economic projects while maintaining the political pressure on the government to fulfill the rights of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

40th Session of Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC begins in Guinea

09 December 2013 19:21 (Last updated 09 December 2013 19:24)

The agenda comprises of issues such as the submission of new draft resolutions on Syria, the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority and Muslims in the southern Philippines

CONAKRY

The Fortieth Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States’ Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) started on Monday in the city of Conakry, capital of Guinea, under the title "Dialogue of Civilizations: Factor of Peace and Sustainable Development."

Speaking at the opening of the session, Secretary General of OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that Israeli blockade on Gaza is unjust and unlawful and the Palestinian question will aggravate the problems in the Islamic world.

"As for the cause of Palestine, the raison d’être of the OIC, it has witnessed important developments in recent times. International unanimity on recognizing the State of Palestine as member of the UN General Assembly on November 29, 2012 was a major achievement that needs to be built on in order to secure more support to the Palestinian people and their legitimate national rights," stressed Ihsanoglu.

To examine the grave situation of the City of Al-Quds and the Aqsa Holy Mosque and consider possible actions to counter Israeli violations, Ihsanoglu invited the member states to participate actively in the proceedings of the special session to be held during the current Council of Foreign Ministers session with a view to elaborate a program of action, including practical measures, that would put an end to continued Israeli violations in the city of Al-Quds.

Turkish Minister of Development Cevdet Yilmaz is expected to address the foreign ministers of OIC member states and also to deliver a speech at the special session to be held on the events ongoing in Al-Quds.

The attendees also observed a minute's silence in honor of anti-apartheid leader and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The agenda of 40th Session of Council of Foreign Minister of OIC Members comprises consideration of all major issues, particularly the submission of new draft resolutions on the situation in Syria, the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority after the visit of the ministerial delegation to Myanmar, Muslims in the southern Philippines, the establishment of new OIC regional offices in non-ömember states, and the appointment of assistant secretaries-general for the starting tenure.

The OIC foreign ministers will, in the Conakry meeting, tackle Islamophobia and elimination of hatred against Islam, combating defamation of religions, as well as the adoption of the draft resolutions on the cause of Palestine, political affairs, the situation of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states, humanitarian affairs, information, economic affairs, science and technology, cultural and social affairs and family.

Rohingya are an indigenous people of Burma: OIC Sec-Gen

Rohingya

Rohingya are an indigenous people of Burma: OIC Sec-Gen

Secretary-general of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu. (PHOTO: OIC)

By COLIN HINSHELWOOD
11 December 2013

The secretary-general of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, spoke with DVB about his recent trip to Burma where he pledged OIC assistance to all communities in Arakan state – Buddhist and Muslim alike. We asked him about Rohingya rights, Rule of Law, and the path to a peaceful future.

Q: Several figures in Burma/ Myanmar have expressed opinions that the major reason for sectarian violence or anti-Muslim riots in the country is a fundamental lack of rule of law. To what extent do you believe law enforcement (or a lack thereof) is to blame? And, is this the major reason for the violence? If not, what is?

A: From 13-17 November 2013, a seven-member OIC Ministerial Contact Group Delegation visited Myanmar at the invitation of the President to assess the situation on the ground and toured camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Delegation held discussions with government officials, members of civil society organizations and political parties, which enabled the OIC to obtain a better appreciation of the local conditions and causes of the communal tensions on the ground.

While Myanmar is making tremendous steps towards democracy there is still a need to strengthen institutions and maintain enforcement of the rule of law, particularly in Rakhine [Arakan] state. However, the inter-communal tensions that erupted stem largely from fundamental misunderstandings and misconceptions amongst different communities about each other. There is fear, suspicion and mistrust driven by false propaganda against Islam and Muslims on social media and by some extremists. The Government recognizes that this lack of trust that pervades the community makes reconciliation and harmonious living difficult and the OIC has made itself available to play a role, if requested, in this regard.

A group of young Rohingya girls fill their jars with water from one of the few water pumps available to the IDPs living in Rabba Garden IDP camp. (PHOTO: Marta Tucci)

Q: Several politicians in Burma, including President Thein Sein, have openly suggested that a solution to this ongoing problem of religious violence is to request Muslim nations and third countries to accept the Rohingyas as refugees. Is this proposal open to debate? Under what circumstances? If not, why not?

A: The Rohingya people have been in Arakan state for centuries and this is a matter of historical record. The Muslim political influence can be traced back to 1784, when the Burmese King Bodawpaya conquered Arakan.
As for the Rohingya refugees who have been pushed out of their territory, there are around 2.5 million refugees spread around the world, particularly in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE [United Arab Emirates], Thailand and Malaysia. The OIC acknowledges that much more reforms are needed to solve human rights and citizenship issues and to ensure the safe return of Rohingya refugees to their ancestral land. The Rohingya are not an alien people to the land of Arakan. There is currently a process of verification underway by the Government for those living in IDP camps and the OIC hopes that this process can be completed soon so that the government can proceed to rectify the status of those who have a right to citizenship.

Q: Much of the rhetoric coming from the anti-Muslim or anti-Rohingya voices in Burma focuses on the notion that in the 1830s, 135 ethnic groups were identified and recognised in Burma. Do these voices have a valid point? To what degree is Burma bound by international norms to accept an influx of people such as the Rohingya?

A: During our visit to Myanmar, we did encounter protesters who were influenced by such anti-Muslim rhetoric propagated by a small minority of extremists. However, this is fuelled by a great deal of misunderstanding about Islam and fear of cultural differences, which are driving the tensions. In fact, the Rohingya are an indigenous people of the land and should be accorded their legal rights. In previous years Rohingyas living within the borders of Myanmar faced severe human rights violations by the military junta such as revoking of their citizenship, refusal to reinstate, restriction of travel, denial of marriage and education, confiscation of lands, forced cheap labour, as well as rape and extortion. Under the leadership of the President and a democratic and pluralistic government we would like to see prosperity, development and social harmony be achieved in Rakhine state for the benefit of all people there and in Myanmar more generally.

Q: What is your opinion on whether the 1982 Citizenship Law should be amended to accommodate the Rohingya community and other groups?
A: From the earliest days of the modern Burmese state, the Rohingya enjoyed recognition of their language, their culture, and their right to citizenship, which was stripped from them by the arbitrary and discriminatory nature of the 1982 Citizenship Law. The discriminatory provisions of this law have been used to deny citizenship to most Rohingya Muslims and other minority groups, and should be amended. The Law recognises not one, but three categories of citizens: citizens, associate citizens and naturalised citizens. The latter two categories of associate or naturalised citizens can lose their citizenship for very minor reasons. It should be noted also that just two weeks ago the Human Rights Committee of the UN General Assembly passed a resolution urging Myanmar to give the stateless Rohingya minority equal access to citizenship and to crack down on violence against them and other Muslims in the Southeast Asian nation.

Q: During your last visit to Burma, the OIC pledged to help both or all communities in Arakan state. How do you envisage OIC’s role in providing humanitarian aid and to a larger degree, helping to establish peace in the region?
A: At the conclusion of the visit a joint communiqué was issued which expressed the common understanding of the way forward for OIC-Myanmar relations. The joint communiqué outlined the framework of cooperation; it was agreed that coordination of activities would take place through OIC ASEAN member states (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei) specifically for the delivery of humanitarian aid. In addition, the need for interfaith dialogue, reconciliation and building mutual trust was identified and efforts are underway to develop programs that will bring peace, stability, and economic prosperity for the benefit of all communities in Rakhine state.
Credit:DVB

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Five Years of Hell for Boatpeople/THE ROHINGYAS ASK CIVIL SOCIETIES' HELP TO COME OUT FROM BLOODY HELL!!!

THE ROHINGYAS ASK CIVIL SOCIETIES' HELP TO COME OUT FROM BLOODY HELL!!!

If the international community are delaying to come forwards at the help of Rohingya boat people tragedy ,it will remain for decades to solve . This is an obligation of UN and ASEAN to immediately intervene the deadly humanitarian crisis. Thein Sein regime is full responsible for it. This is a crime against humanity. All the wrongdoers including traffickers must be booked for trail . We are sincerely asking urgent solution of plight of Rohingyas. It's also a big shame for international civil society including Thailand. We are helpless.

Posted by Maung Kyaw Nu,President,Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) on December 10, 2013 04:55

The Royal Thai Navy oversees Rohingya on a beach in 2008. Now, in 2013, dealing with human traffickers appears to provide an easier solution

Photo by Royal Thai Navy

TOURISM

Five Years of Hell for Boatpeople

By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Latest Thailand continues to attempt to please its neighbor Burma by trying to find answers to the Rohingya issue that avoid solving the problem with the people who create it. More »(PLS click &read here

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/2008-2013-five-years-hell-boatpeople-thailand-secretly-tries-options-19358/

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Sunday, 8 December 2013

Secret Gulags Confirmed by News Agency

WE APPEAL CIVIL SOCIETY TO SOLVE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS OF ROHINGYA URGENTY!

Every day captives die.Yesterday morning I was informed one died at the trafficker's camp . Four beautiful Rohingya women are gang raped around the clocks despite their relatives paid 7000 Ringit (Malaysian currency) to the traffickers.The unlucky Rohingya women /girls are not get released because of sexual enjoyment by the traffickers. The captives are served stream water , less food ,mosquitoes bite ,no medicines, sleep on wet places causes daily deaths. Most of detainees release who caught again by traffickers are naturally sick and have no resistance power in their bodies .The new comers are all so very weak due to their long voyage to Thailand. As an activist I receive heart bleeding news from different areas.Many captives news are unknown and guess that they were already sold to fishing trawlers and some already died in the jungle. The solution is only protect them in their birth place by deploying UN Peace Keeping Forces. If not the Rohingya boat people tragedies at the traffickers concentration camps will be continued. We are so helpless and we don't know how to solve this humanitarian crisis. The Burmese Rohingya Association ,BRAT, members have knocked UN doors many times since June 2012 and only asking for deployment of UNPKF to protect the Rohingyas from genocide. We didn't see any action from Mr.Ban Ki Moon except a few condemning resolutions from UNGA. He is well aware about solving genocidal cases through convening UN Security Council UNSC meeting and urgent sending Peace Keeping Forces in Arakan. Due to UN failure of timely action ,our Rohingyas are experiencing untold losses inside and out side of our country.We are ardently appealing towards the civil society of the world to save the Rohingyas from extinction from the earth. Rohingya situation is so dire everywhere and we feel very friendless .

Maung Kyaw Nu
BRAT

A Phuketwan journalist being assisted through the jungle near a secret camp

Photo by phuketwan.com

TOURISM

Secret Gulags Confirmed by News Agency

By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Latest A long, detailed report by Reuters news agency adds weight today to Phuketwan's investigation into the abuses and killings of Rohingya boatpeople in secret camps in Thailand's jungle. More »(Click and read here detail)

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Thursday, 5 December 2013

Report: Thailand Selling Rohingya to Human Traffickers/Listen VOA

Listen VOA

News / Asia

A woman and her children visit their husband and dad of Myanmar Rohingya Muslims at the court's detention house in Medan, North Sumatra, Dec. 4, 2013, before the verdict.

VOA News

December 05, 2013

A news agency investigation says Thai officials have been secretly allowing Rohingya Muslim refugees to be dumped off to human traffickers, who hold them for ransom under brutal conditions.

The report by the Reuters news agency said Thai immigration officials were often complicit in the policy toward the Rohingya, who are escaping unrest and religious persecution in neighboring Burma.

It said many of the refugees were told by officials they were being deported back to Burma. Only after they were out at sea, did they realize they had been sold to human traffickers.

The survivors say they were then sent to camps along Thailand's remote border with Malaysia. Many were said to be beaten, and some even killed. They were only allowed to leave if their relatives paid thousands of dollars in ransom.

Thai police officials told Reuters they have heard about the camps, but say they are doing nothing at this time to investigate them. They also acknowledged that Thai officials have in the past benefited from Rohingya smuggling operations.

Chris Lewa of the Arakan Project, a Rohingya rights group, tells VOA the camps have been around for a while. But she says conditions there are getting worse, likely because of the rising population.

She says her organization has talked to many refugees at the camps who were beaten in an attempt to extort about $2,000 from family members.

"They are given a mobile phone to call relatives in Myanmar, in Malaysia, wherever, to collect this money. And when they are making that call, they are beaten up so they will scream and cry so the relatives will feel the urge to collect the money as soon as possible."

Lewa says it is not clear what happens to those whose families cannot afford the ransom.

"The people we have met had paid [the ransom], so they don't know what happened to those left behind. We understand that quite a few of them would have been sold, either to a fishing troller or to plantations."

Thailand has come under criticism in the past for its policy toward Rohingya. Many have been deported or turned away at sea. Others are in government detention centers described as overcrowded and inhumane.

The refugees are fleeing violence in Burma's western Rakhine, or Arakan, state, where sectarian violence has killed at least 240 people and displaced 140,000 others, mainly Rohingya, in recent months.

In addition to the violence, Rohingya are denied citizenship and other basic rights in Burma, where they are considered immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations considers them one of the world's most persecuted minority groups.

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Thailand's Secret Trafficking Camps, Where Boatpeople Are Being Beaten, Raped and Killed, Say Escapers

Near one of four secret camps, hidden in jungle in southern Thailand

Photo by phuketwan.com

TOURISM

Thailand's Secret Trafficking Camps, Where Boatpeople Are Being Beaten, Raped and Killed, Say Escapers

By Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Latest Rohingya survivors have told of rapes, beatings and deaths occurring in secret camps along the Thai-Malaysia border where Thai officials help traffick hundreds of boatpeople. More »

My 2nd comment:-
Thanks again to Phuketwan Editors Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison and all comments including Tom. It needs all National Newspapers Thai and English to highlight the reality of dangerous human trafficking where genocide escapees and forced migrants Rohingyas including women ,children are 100% victims. The international newspapers and medias are also requested to cover the news.
The investigation team should be arranged soon by UN in this missing Rohingyas of IDCs and fate of new comers who often catch by traffickers easily. We are also asking urgent clarification from UNHCR ,IOM ,NHCT,Thai Muslim Organizations under the CHULA ,WHITE CHANNEL TV etc who are directly or indirectly dealing with the 2000 Rohingya boat people detainees. We are fully darkened in this notorious dealing .One AM (nick name of a Thai lady) Chaigmai base NGO told me at FCCT that one of ASEAN Embassy has given green signal to accept the 2000 detainees ,that why the miserable thing was happened . We would like to know all secrete deals regarding our people.we are directly concerned . It should be internationally investigated and responsible person should be booked for trail . Please come forwards to stop the humanitarian crisis of Rohingya boat people .We are very helpless to save the Rohingya boat people from economical opportunists. Every book load of Rohingyas ( if 500 heads x2000 USD =1,000,000) a million USD earn by the gang here. Please find out all white and black guys of traffickers.

Maung Kyaw Nu,President of Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand BRAT
-----

My first comment:
25

During the political crisis in Thailand, most of the Rohingya boat people detainees were cunningly sold via Human traffickers @ around 2000 USD . The Phuket Wan news finding is more than true and I appreciated it. I also surprise of other news medias and NGOs' silence in this world record break inhuman trafficking of Rohingyas .Every detainee and new arrivals Rohingyas must have to go through traffickers ' trap. It is well organize and some muscle men are helping to the trafficker's groups. The group consist of a few notorious Rohingyas ,local Thais and muscle men .Phuket Wan stated dozens of Rohingya lost their lives at the hand of traffickers. Some died at the IDCs and thousands lost their lives during their trips to here.The Prime Minister Yin Luck promised in January ,2013 that the 2000 Rohingya detainees would be dealt as per international standard ,giving full facility to UNHCR for interview and they will not be deported to Burma. We trusted her promise but after six months ,the thing is going against it. The genocide escapees Rohingyas who came here only appealed temporary protection and a space to get breath . Finally Rohingyas fall the most dangerous trap of traffickers . I have been crying for these people's welfare for a long times . We are so concern about our fellow Rohingyas who came (continue coming)here to save their lives from killer Thien Sein regime of Burma.
Today ,we would like to draw the attention of civil society of Thailand and world to make an inquiry committee of random selling of Rohingyas and finding a permanent solution of newly boat people coming here . This tragedy can not be stopped till ethnic Rohingyas get internationally protection in their homeland. We are very helpless to deal this dire situation and urgently need international civil society and UN help . We are ardently asking every conscious people's help to voice out random trafficking.
Posted by Maung Kyaw Nu,President,Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) on December 4, 2013 02:00

When is something going to be done for these poor souls.... why is it the world sits back and just looks on?
Posted by DG on December 4, 2013 04:44

Excellent reporting. This deserves wider coverage and to be front page headlines. I hope Thai language media takes it up.
Posted by Tom on December 4, 2013 10:03

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Boat carrying 70 Muslim Rohingya sinks off Myanmar

5 hours ago

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A boat carrying at least 70 Muslim Rohingya capsized and sank Sunday off the western coast of Myanmar, an aid worker said. Only eight survivors have been found.

The boat was in the Bay of Bengal and headed for Bangladesh when it went down early Sunday, said Abdul Melik, who works for a humanitarian organization in the region.

The incident comes after the United Nations warned that an annual and often deadly exodus of desperate people from Myanmar's Rakhine state appears to have begun. The exodus usually kicks off in November, when seas begin to calm following the annual monsoon.

As many as 1,500 people have fled in the last week, Dan McNorton, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, said at a press briefing Saturday in Geneva.
He said the agency had received several reports of drownings and was seeking details from authorities.

In Sunday's incident, Melik said the wooden boat, which was carrying at least 70 Rohingya from Ohn Taw Gyi village, left at around 3 a.m. and broke apart about four hours later. Women, children and babies were among those on board.
Family members and friends were scouring the Bay of Bengal and coastlines for survivors, but so far only eight survivors have been found, he said.
It was not immediately clear whether any bodies had been recovered.

Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million, has been gripped by sectarian violence in the last 18 months, leaving more than 240 people dead and causing 250,000 to flee from their homes. Most of the victims have been Rohingya, a long persecuted Muslim minority in the country, with Buddhist mobs chasing them down with machetes, iron chains and bamboo clubs.

The U.N. says it expects this year's exodus to be on one of the biggest on record because of the violence

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http://phuketwan.com/tourism/2008-2013-five-years-hell-boatpeople-thailand-secretly-tries-options-19358/

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