Documentary: 'A fearless police officer' (video)
This documentary tells the story of Police Major General Paween Pongsirin who investigated human trafficking with Rohingya refugees in 2015, charged a number of high-ranking individuals after investigation, then received death threats and had to flee to Australia.
Former Police Major General Paween Pongsirin* is happy and relieved to have been able to tell his story through MP Rangsiman Rome of the Move Forward Party. The former agent investigated the human smuggling of Rohinya migrants and mass graves in which the bodies of dozens of Rohinya were found. Because of his research, he received death threats from senior military officers, police officers and civil servants, had to end the investigation early and fled to Australia at the end of 2015, where he asked for asylum.
Military coup in Myanmar
It's bumblebee with the neighbor of Thailand. The military in Myanmar has staged a coup and arrested government leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In addition, a state of emergency has been declared. Military commander-in-chief General Min Aung Hlaing will take over power for a period of one year, the coup plotters said in a TV broadcast.
Rohingya population on the run
In recent years, the sad stories about the persecution of the Rohingya, especially in Myanmar, have increasingly come out through the media. On Thailandblog you could read a number of stories about it in May 2015, so more than five years ago. The Rohingya is an ethnic group with a worldwide population of between one and a half and three million people. Most of them live in Rakhine, a province in western Myanmar, on the border with Bangladesh and form a stateless Muslim minority there.
Malaysian police have found a mass grave with the remains of 24 people near the Thai border, Reuters news agency reports. According to the police, these are victims of human trafficking.
Boat refugee crisis: Myanmar on the defensive
In Bangkok yesterday, representatives of seventeen Asian countries directly or indirectly affected by the refugee crisis were present, as well as the United States and Japan and representatives of international organizations such as the UN refugee service UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration.
Summit in Bangkok on refugee crisis
Representatives from seventeen Asian countries are meeting in the capital Bangkok to discuss the refugee crisis in Southeast Asia. At the opening, the Thai foreign minister said that the refugee flow has reached alarming proportions.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the navy to set up a special task force to provide humanitarian aid to the boat people in Thai waters. The navy will deploy two large ships with medical personnel to help the migrants at sea.
After the discovery of several mass graves in the south of Thailand, several mass graves have now also been found in Malaysia, presumably containing the bodies of victims of human trafficking. Human traffickers smuggle migrants, mostly hunted Rohingya Muslims, from Burma to Thailand and Malaysia.
Rohinga refugees: Thailand praises US for support
Thailand is happy with the help that the US has promised on the problem of the Rohingya refugees. “The situation with Rohingya refugees requires an international approach, it is not the problem of one particular country,” said Anusit Kunakhon, secretary general of Thailand's National Security Council.
Prayut: No shelter for Rohingya in Thailand
Yesterday it became clear that Malaysia and Indonesia will receive Rohingya refugees. However, Thailand is not prepared to provide temporary shelter for the refugees, Prayut said.
The Rohingyas and the Netherlands
This message appeared in the Dutch press earlier this week: “State Secretary Sharon Dijksma (Economic Affairs) is on a trade mission in Myanmar this week until Thursday.
Myanmar says it is not responsible for boat people
Myanmar authorities say they are not responsible for the migrant crisis in the Bay of Bengal. A spokesman for the president says that the country will also not participate in a summit on boat people organized by Thailand if the word Rohingya is in the invitation. Myanmar does not recognize that Muslim minority.
Thailand pretends to be surprised by the problem with the Rohingya refugees, but nothing could be further from the truth. For years, the government has looked the other way and failed to act against smugglers and corrupt officials who turned a blind eye.
A representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has told the BBC that at least XNUMX boat people from Bangladesh and Myanmar are stranded at sea off Thailand.
Who are the Rohingyas?
With the recent discoveries of mass graves in the border area of Thailand and Malaysia, apparently involving Rohingya refugees, this minority group is once again in the news. Who are the Rohingyas anyway?
After the discovery of the first death camp with 26 bodies, a second and third camp was discovered today just a kilometer from the camp found last Friday. Victims of smugglers were also held here. That has been announced by the police.
Thai police find dozens of bodies in jungle
Thai police have found 32 bodies in the jungle, believed to be Rohingya Muslims from Burma. A man was also found who was still alive, but he is in a bad condition.
News from Thailand – June 20, 2014
Today in News from Thailand:
• Minor earthquakes in Chiang Rai; most residents don't notice
• Today is World Refugee Day
• Again resistance from Railways against relocation of minibuses
News from Thailand – April 24, 2014
Today in News from Thailand:
• Rienthong: No armed witch hunt against anti-monarchists
• Missing Karen activist still missing
• Refugee monk returns to Thailand after 20 years
News from Thailand – December 21, 2013
Today in News from Thailand:
• Press organisation: Report to the navy against journalists is intimidation
• Mass rally tomorrow is litmus test for protest progress
• Train from Butterworth to Bangkok derailed in Phetchaburi
News from Thailand – September 6, 2013
Today in News from Thailand:
• Special court room for tourists opened in Pattaya
• Farmers do not like new guaranteed rice price
• Member of Parliament throws chair at President of the House