PHUKET: Seven more Rohingya who escaped from Phuket Immigration headquarters have been arrested, leaving 23 men still free.
Eight of the weekend's escapers had previously been contained or recaptured. The fate of about 2000 Rohingya men, women and children being held in Thailand has yet to be decided.
Depression and despondency have driven hundreds to escape and in many cases to attempt to proceed to Malaysia with the help of traffickers.
Thailand is usually a transit nation for persecuted Rohingya who flee their homeland, Burma, in an attempt to find sanctuary in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
By apprehending and holding the Rohingya, Thailand has left itself yet to resolve the difficult decision of what to do when more boatloads of Rohingya sail south from October.
Allegations of trafficking by Thai residents, by renegade military and by local police along the Andaman Sea coast have surfaced, compounding Thailand's dilemma.
Last ''sailing season,'' according to the best estimates, about 35,000 boatpeople fled ethnic cleansing in Burma, often without a destination in mind.
This was a four-fold increase on the number who fled in the previous October to April sailing season.
The expectation is that unless the approach of the Burmese Government changes, the number of boatpeople will multiply again in the next sailing season.
Phuket Immigration officials are due to give a media conference about the escaped Rohingya tomorrow.
Eight of the weekend's escapers had previously been contained or recaptured. The fate of about 2000 Rohingya men, women and children being held in Thailand has yet to be decided.
Depression and despondency have driven hundreds to escape and in many cases to attempt to proceed to Malaysia with the help of traffickers.
Thailand is usually a transit nation for persecuted Rohingya who flee their homeland, Burma, in an attempt to find sanctuary in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
By apprehending and holding the Rohingya, Thailand has left itself yet to resolve the difficult decision of what to do when more boatloads of Rohingya sail south from October.
Allegations of trafficking by Thai residents, by renegade military and by local police along the Andaman Sea coast have surfaced, compounding Thailand's dilemma.
Last ''sailing season,'' according to the best estimates, about 35,000 boatpeople fled ethnic cleansing in Burma, often without a destination in mind.
This was a four-fold increase on the number who fled in the previous October to April sailing season.
The expectation is that unless the approach of the Burmese Government changes, the number of boatpeople will multiply again in the next sailing season.
Phuket Immigration officials are due to give a media conference about the escaped Rohingya tomorrow.
The only solution is shifting Rohingya detainees to the proposed Refugee camps where their future will be determined by the UNHCR. According to our sources most of the escaping Rohingyas fall at the hands of traffickers and have to arrange 2000 USD to be freed . The Thai authority should arrange a wider space for these Refugees of genocides. These boat people detainees 's only request is to transfer them a bit better place where they can walk and get breathing space. We also learned that some big ships arranged by the traffickers are at large in the sea near the west Arakan. There are still many Rohingyas at the custody of traffickers. Its needs to educate the local people about the dangerous of trafficking .I am sincerely asking local people ,news agencies and law enforcing agencies' help in this regards.
Thanks to the Phuketwan for their excellent services for the humanity.
Posted by Maung Kyaw Nu,President,Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) on August 14, 2013 02:07