Call me whatever names you wish, but my sympathy just ran out for these oppressed people, because of two paragraphs. "Two large families contain all the children. Nine of them belong to two sisters, travelling with one husband and nine children.

The other family consists of a mother, a father and their seven children."

If you have nothing, why make children to share in that emptiness of your lives? Communism at it's best, you have nothing and want to share it with the rest of the world. Now the picture becomes clearer, a country helps two, they breed like rabbits, next thing you know...you have to help nine people. Send them right back from whence they came from, nobody needs them.

Posted by DuncanB on January 2, 2013 17:36

Another local online news reports about this issue that phuket governor claimed the group asked to be repatriated by themselves. Is PW aware of such claim ?

Posted by paul on January 2, 2013 18:04

Sounds like Pk authorities/navy tried to give genuine help, but someone stopped it. Heartbreaking to think what will happen to these people.

Duncan B - I do call names - you're an ignorant twat with your head up your arse. Open your narrow narrow mind, dickhead. Give me an 'M'. Give me an 'o'. Give me a 'derated'.

As for requesting to be sent back to their own country where their own countrymen and army want them obliterated - to the extent that the lives of 3 yr olds are risked because its safer than staying in Burma. I don't reckon.

Posted by James on January 2, 2013 19:15

As usual, PW has the balls to report the facts, where as the other major English language outlet toes the official line.

That said, it's heartbreaking to imagine how they must be feeling now. 2 weeks of hardship and suffering, then a glimmer of hope, only be dashed by being sent back to the predators.

Great job Phuket, what a show of compassion to start the new year with.

Posted by Andrew on January 2, 2013 20:03

DuncanB people have children for many reasons. I don't know where you are but one of the reasons you might also consider if in a country where there are limited benefits for the elderly children can provide financial assistance. Open your mind up and maybe you might be less ignorant.

Posted by Happy Farang on January 2, 2013 21:30

Ed, why did you not print my other comment?

Posted by Happy Farang on January 2, 2013 21:52

It does appear that their resident country, Myanmar, their descendant country Bangladesh, Asean countries, the UN seem to have little interest in helping these people or at the very least aschieving any postive results for them. Even in the Middle East where there is often fighting and wars minorities get more attention. This is very strange.

Posted by Happy Farang on January 2, 2013 22:44

Ed, your obviously want to help these people but your attitude is terrible. Glad you are not at the UN.

Posted by Happy Farang on January 3, 2013 00:25

Thank you James.

Maybe it is cheaper to try again from Burma, then getting handed over to these agents. Otherwise makes no sense at all.

But not easy for Phuket and Thailands authorities. Glad I am not in their shoes. And again in this mess the Royal Thai Navy looks like a institution of high moral conduct. It only ends before the beaches...

Posted by Lena on January 3, 2013 00:38

... they couldn't have given them fuel and sent them on there way ? If I was the capt of that boat that intercepted them I would have helped them to continue on there way considering the genocide that has been going on in Burma of these people .. I can't imagine they will be treated with much love by Burmese authorities ... I knew many guys when I was in the military that went against da rules to help others Lena ..
I guess people here have never heard of the Berlin Wall ... maybe we should have handed the people who escaped back to the communists ..

Posted by da capT on January 3, 2013 10:42

I have to kind of agree with DuncanB, if life is hard, try not to make it harder by breeding children you cannot afford and will have to suffer the heartache of seeing them suffer with you.
On the other hand, they could not be let off to sea with new supplies due to the conditions of the boat.

It's sad, and even more when children are involved.

Posted by May on January 3, 2013 12:13

I'm not saying a government controlled population control. Just saying as an individual thought, if I am having a hard life and it's likely to get harder, I would be thinking twice about having kids. Then again, where would they get their birth control from since they probably cannot afford it nor are educated enough to think that far? It's a damn vicious cycle....

Posted by May on January 3, 2013 17:16