Risky Voyage to Freedom

Thailand is under scrutiny after being accused of dumping refugees at sea.

Hello, I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.

Groups of the Rohingya (Ro-he-nya) minority reportedly fled Myanmar, also known as Burma, after they were allegedly detained, beaten and attacked by the Myanmar Navy. Many also have scars and suffered burns from a fire that broke out when they boarded a boat to escape. But when they arrived on the Thai shore, they were reportedly towed out to sea and set adrift again by the Thai authorities.

We’re tracking coverage from CNN, Channel News Asia, Thailand Outlook Channel and the Bangkok Post.

As part of a special investigation, CNN accompanied Thai village patrollers and found an immigrant who was hiding from local authorities.

“Through his broken English, sign language and drawings, he told us his name was Iqbal Hussein and he was on one of six refugee boats that arrived in December. They said they were towed back out to sea in January. Five boats sank. His, he said, made it back to shore. The Thai government said it’s investigating, promising a report to the prime minister this week. This man was lucky. The people on this boat have not been seen again.”  (CNN)

Singapore-based Channel News Asia seeks an explanation from the Thai prime minister, who says his government is looking into allegations against the military.

“The Armed Forces are being asked to find out facts and explain what actually happened. But there are a number of photos that clearly show how these people are being treated. Unfortunately, there are conflicting accounts of what happens, but we’ll look into the matter.” (Channel News Asia)

Thailand Outlook Channel presents a view from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The network reports the agency hopes to solve the problem of refugee mistreatment at a more international level.

“We feel that we can then also work with and are encouraged to work with the Thai government in terms of looking of this problem, not only from the perspectives of Thailand but also the perspectives of the broader region.” (Thailand Outlook Channel)

Authorities say about 20,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh have settled illegally in Thailand.

Bangkok Post points out the exodus from the countries is not likely to slow down, because their living conditions had been far more desperate.

In case of Myanmar, the minority was stripped of their citizenship, had no rights to property and had to obtain permission before traveling from town to town inside the country.
 
A Myanmese human rights group leader also tells Bangkok Post:
“As refugees swelling makeshift camps in a poor nation, the Rohingya in Bangladesh can hardly hope for a full measure of basic civil rights either.” (Bangkok Post)

So what do you think Thailand should have done to the illegal immigrants? What could prevent the problem from happening again? We’d like to hear your thoughts and please check out the links to our sources.

I’m Charlotte Bellis for Newsy.com.