Burma refuses to accept Rohingya

Published: 4/02/2009 at 10:47 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

The plight of the Rohingya people has worsened after Burma, Bangladesh and Thailand confirmed their status as illegal immigrants and refused them sanctuary.

Daw Aye Aye Mu, Burmese charge d'affaires to Thailand, said in Ranong province on Wednesday Burma did not recognise Rohingya people as citizens and allowed them stay on its soil only on humanitarian reasons.

She said the Rohingya were illegal immigrants who were brought to Burma during the colonial era. Since the independence of Burma, it had been difficult for them to live there because of their different language and culture.

Consequently, Rohingya people decide to seek a better life in other countries. There are about 200,000 Rohingya people in Burma, she said.

Sayed Golam Zahid, Bangladeshi charge d'affaires to Thailand, also said in Ranong that Rohingya people were not citizens of Bangladesh.

He said their migration to Bangladesh started in 1978. He said it was believed there are about 300,000 Rohingya living in Bangladesh.

The charges d'affaires as well as diplomats from Indonesia and India went with Foreign Ministry officials to visit the Rohingya in Ranong on Wednesday.

In Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there were attempts to pressure Thailand to accept the Rohingya as refugees. But he said Thailand did not cause the problems of the Rohingya and thus should not be responsible for them. Doing so could lead to serious conflicts with Thai people.

The government would treat the Rohingya strictly as illegal immigrants. They would be deported through legal and internationally accepted processes, he said.

Mr Abhisit dismissed negative reports about Thailand's treatment of the Rohingya.

He said the reports were based on the accounts of Rohingya people in Indonesia, India and elsewhere and that people should be open to all sources of information.

He said Thailand was eager to work out solutions for the Rohingya with all parties.

If Thailand had any intention of violating the rights of the Rohingya, it would not have called for cooperation from other nations.

Muhammad Norsam, a Rohingya human rights activist, told another House committee on law, justice and human rights Wednesday the Rohingya were tortured in Arakan state of Burma and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees should help the people.

He said the Rohingya wanted to migrate to Malaysia, Indonesia and other Muslim countries, not to Thailand. There are about 20,000 Rohingya migrants in Thailand.

About 850 have been rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters in recent weeks, all telling the same stories. Rights groups fear scores may have perished.

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Writer: Bangkokpost.com

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Kyaw Tun

Discussion 22 : 06/02/2009 at 05:44 AM22
Illegal immigration refers to immigration across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. In politics, the term may imply a larger set of social issues and time constraints with disputed consequences in areas such as economy, social welfare, education, health care, slavery, prostitution, legal protections, voting rights, public services, and human rights. Conversely, Illegal emigration refers to unlawfully leaving a country.
A R Arakani

Discussion 21 : 05/02/2009 at 11:49 PM21
Kyaw Tun,
So you mean all Burmese immigrants (Karen. Chin, Mon, etc)in Thaland living in refugee camps are legal migrants with authorized pass from Burmese authorities then seek asylum in UNHCR office. I think you better research and study about international laws and charters under UN convention.
Kyaw Tun

Discussion 20 : 05/02/2009 at 02:31 PM20
Nobody, no countries around the World to accept or pass illegal migrants. This is international law. We need legal or authorized documents such as border pass papers, passposts with visa.
max meier

Discussion 19 : 05/02/2009 at 01:47 PM19
it is correct that there are roningyas in Myanmar. It is also correct that those have bee brought into Myanmar by the British colonialists and I am quite sure that those boat people are not rohingyas but simply Bangladeshi under disguise to try to polotical asylum under the rohingya cover. I also dont belive that this boat people came with this flimsy boats all the wax down from Bangladesh or the Myanmar - Bangladeshi border, thats more than 3000 km and 2500 km without engine fuel, this is a scam of some strange kind. The Thai government must stay firm on this subject. Why wont the British take them ? The British started all this mess during colonial times, after they run away and left their mess to the others, Brown is such a self declared clever guy he should invite them to England since who started the mess sgould also clean up the mess !!
yebaw

Discussion 18 : 05/02/2009 at 12:12 PM18
I am not a supporter of Burmese militay dictator. However, this time, I agree with their stand on the so-called Burmese Rohinjay. I firmly stand on my belief that they are not Burmese- they were not born in Burma, they do not know Burmese culture and they do not speak Burmese and they say Daw Aung San Suu kyi is a famous singer of Burma. It is ridiculous to call them Burmese.
Bangladesh

Discussion 17 : 05/02/2009 at 11:59 AM17
What a joke! If these Rohingyas are a wealthy community, Bangladesh would have gladly embraced them with wide opened arms! The sad fact is that the Rohingya are not, so Bangladesh considers it a regional issues! What a convenient way to shift or export its problems to neighbouring countries.

Moreover, the race of Rohinyas are closer to the Indians/Bangladeshie lineage, than said to the Thais, Malaysians & Indonesians. Yet Bangladesh is discriminating against its own kind! What a shame!
yourmama

Discussion 16 : 05/02/2009 at 11:44 AM16
you nitwit its not about military or government, one must protect the country image at all cost, this is external problem, doesn't matter which branch it is, blaming the military is like asking the country to responsibility for it..... (Drey) do you know where to put these people, if not you should also shut the fuk up.
Pa pu

Discussion 15 : 05/02/2009 at 11:36 AM15
Ha Ha
It is human nature to frown when you dis-like because you do not get anything and smile show willingness when you gain something. Example, Thai is still keeping Shan minority Padaung ( long neck) people to attract tourists. UNHCR had already found place to settle in Newzealand. The Padaung people are virtual hostage by Thai. They are very un happy. That is the fact.
One of them
Drey

Discussion 14 : 05/02/2009 at 10:49 AM14
With the refugees blood all over the hands of this government (deny, deny, deny) how can they even consider hosting a summit of Asean nations.

If the government could just bring itself to go after the military (Anupong is ultimately responsible for this as Supreme Commander). But no, they owe too much to the military (and PAD as we can see) to do whats right.

So, instead this government opts to lower themselves below even the allegations against Thaksin for inhumane treatment. Lie, deny, lie, deny...

These poor refugees deserve better as human beings. What an embarrassment to mankind.
yeah

Discussion 13 : 05/02/2009 at 10:04 AM13
internationally who ever complain about these Rohingya people, then they should keep them other wise shut the fuk up about how Thailand treated them, if the human right, UN have a problem with it they should go and find a place for these people to live other they also shut the fuk up. these international organization talk too much and not doing anything about it, shut-up or put-up.

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Burma refuses to accept Rohingya