Immigration chief highlights Rohingya plight in Thailand

Immigration Bureau chief Pharnu Kerdlarpphon expressed concern over the number of Rohingya refugees in Thailand. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

May 5, 2013

Phuket Gazette

Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pharnu Kerdlarpphon, in Phuket for a closed-door meeting of high-ranking officials, has expressed his concern for the growing number of Rohingya refugees being detained in Thailand.

Lt Gen Pharnu’s visit to Phuket on Tuesday was to head a meeting tabled to discuss the bureau’s “working policy” at which Phuket’s own immigration superintendent did not attend.

Following the meeting, Gen Pharnu told the press, “The number of Rohingya entering the country is a worrying situation. We are now detaining 1,936 Rohingya across the country, including 399 boys and 304 girls.

“Immigration Police shelters in the South have no more room for refugees. We have even transferred some of the refugees to immigration shelters across the Kingdom,” he said.

As an example, Gen Pharnu noted that 84 Rohingya are being held the Ranong Immigration shelter.

“We provide them medical checkups and they have a chance to exercise and relax during their time at the shelter,” he explained.

However, the refugees’ detention in Thailand is intended to be only temporary, he cautioned.

“The shelters are supposed to be for only temporary detention before illegal immigrants are deported, but in the case of the Rohingya, we cannot really deport them because their home country [Myanmar] does not welcome them,” Gen Pharnu said.

“Now the Thai Government is in discussions with other countries to find a place the refugees can be transferred to.

“I have been assured that the Rohingya will be treated in a way that meets international-standards,” he added.

Phuket Immigration calls for Rohingya aid

Phuket Immigration is asking for donations for the Rohingya refugees they are detaining. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

March 26, 2013

Phuket Gazette

Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration is calling for donations of essentials for the 67 Rohingya currently under detention.

“We are requesting donations of food, toiletries and clothes for the Rohingya because we do not know how long they will be detained here, as other shelters are full,” said Capt Angkarn Yasanop of the Immigration office on Phuket Road.

Two groups of Rohingya have been apprehended in the past few days – 91 on Koh Lone on Friday and another 11 on Cape Panwa on Saturday (story here).

Capt Angkarn told the Gazette that “35 men have been transferred to Ranong Immigration. The rest are being detained in Phuket, with women and children now at a shelter in Koh Sireh.”

“We had to transfer some of them because Phuket Immigration was built to accommodate only 50 people,” he said.

The group of 39 Rohingya arrested in Phang Nga on Saturday. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Another group of 39 Rohingya were arrested by 20 Takuapa Police at Tab Tawan beach in Phang Nga on Saturday.

“Police received a report from fishermen that they had spotted a 'suspicious' boat at sea. At first we saw only an empty boat moored at Tab Tawan beach in Ban Tab Tawan,” Takuapa Police Superintendent Khemarin Hatsiri said.

“Police looked around the area and found the refugees in a sea gypsy village,” Col Khemarin said.

“We arrested 37 men and two women who told us they left Rakhine state in a fishing boat on March 6. They intended to reach either Thailand or Malaysia to look for work,” Col Kemarin explained.

“They said they were very exhausted and hungry from the journey. They survived on water and uncooked rice,” he explained.

“They looked so exhausted, some of them cried out loud when they saw us,” he added.

“We offered them food and water, then brought them all to Takuapa police station to be processed. We intended to transfer them to Phang Nga Immigration,” he said, “but Phang Nga Immigration has no room for them; they are already at maximum capacity with Rohingya arrested previously,” he explained.

“We do not have a place to detain them while they wait to be deported,” he stated.

“I would like to ask the government to resolve the problem of Rohingya as soon as possible,” he added.

Source:Here

After India, Phuket Rohingya face deportation from Thailand

The 91 Rohingya refugees were stranded on Koh Lone, an island off the south of Phuket, after their boat engine seized. Photo: Phuket Marine Police

March 23, 2013

Phuket Gazette

Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: The boatload of 91 Rohingya forced to land yesterday on Koh Lone, off the south end of Phuket, have been taken into custody and will face yet another deportation, this time from Thailand.

The group, who were forced to land on Koh Lone because their boat engine seized, told reporters they were taken into custody by Indian authorities on about January 26 and escorted out of Indian territorial waters on March 19.

The group, which includes three women and seven boys, are now being held at Chalong Police Station where officers are recording their arrival, officially placing them under arrest.

Phuket Marine Police along with Rawai Mayor Arun Soros and other village officials recovered the refugees from the island this morning.

“The men, women and children were tired and hungry,” Lt Jeerayuth Onthong of the Marine Police told the Phuket Gazette.

“We gave them some food and water, then let them shower and pray before we brought them to Chalong Police Station,” he said.

Talking through a translator, the refugees explained strife-torn Rakhine State in Myanmar (story here) on January 22.

“Their destination is Malaysia,” Lt Jeerayuth said.

“On January 26, they went the wrong way and entered Indian territorial waters. They were arrested by Indian Police, then ‘pushed out’ of the country on March 19. They headed off to the same destination, Malaysia,” he added.

“They are now being placed under arrest. After they have been processed they will be handed over to Phuket Immigration, who will begin the process to have them deported,” Lt Jeerayuth said.

Meanwhile, Wichit Police arrested 11 other Rohingya at a mosque on Cape Panwa at about 8am today.

“We believe they are from the same boat. They are now at Phuket Immigration,” explained Lt Jeerayuth.

Capt Angkarn Yasanop at Phuket Immigration told the Gazette, “We received 11 Rohingya from Wichit Police at about 3pm. There are nine men, one woman and a 10-year-old boy in the group.

“We are waiting for the other group to be recorded at Chalong Police Station. Once that is done, they will be transferred here,” he explained.

“Meanwhile, the boy will be sent to a refuge shelter on Koh Sireh [on the east side of Phuket Town],” he added.

Source:Here

Phuket News: Rohingya risk births at sea to flee Myanmar

Thursday, January 31, 2013  Phuket Gazette  By Kritsada Mueanhawong PHUKET: A newborn baby just eight days old was among the boatload of Rohingya refugees who made landfall yesterday in the Surin Islands archipelago, in Phang Nga province, to the north of Phuket. As the boat landed, local people brought food and drinks to the refugees, Khura Buri District Chief Manit Pianthong said. An estimated 110 refugees were on the boat, among them 69 men, 20 women, and 21 children. “Two of the women were pregnant and 11 of the men were sick,” said Chief Manit. The newborn baby had skin problems and was taken to Khura Buri Hospital. The refugees are currently being accommodated at the Khura Buri Shelter, but Chief Manit pleaded for help. “More than 500 Rohingya have arrived in Phang Nga in just one month. We cannot accommodate them, and have to move them to other areas. “We need the support and help of the government to solve this problem,” he explained.

Overcrowding at Rohingya shelter raises slew of concerns

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 
Phuket Gazette 
By Chutharat Plerin
PHUKET: Overcrowding at the Phang Nga Shelter for Children and Family, which was housing more than 100 Rohingya refugees, has forced the shelter’s director to have more than 50 of them transferred to a welfare center in Surat Thani.

A bus with 13 Rohingya women, 19 boys and 20 girls is now en route to the Baan Srisurat shelter (website here), the director of the Phang Nga shelter told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

The Phang Nga shelter initially planned to transfer 55 refugees, but a misunderstanding over how this specific number would break refugee families apart forced a compromise, and 52 volunteers were sent to Baan Surat, Phang Nga shelter Director Dararat Sutheth said explained.

“We had a tough night last night. Police officers had to be called in. Once the refugees saw the officers in uniform, they calmed down. We settled the issue by agreeing to have only volunteers sent to Surat Thani. The 52 people departed at 9am today,” Ms Dararat, said.

“The shelter in Surat Thani is a refuge for human-trafficking victims. It is the shelter’s policy to accept only women and girls, as well as boys not over 10 years old,” Ms Dararat explained.

Despite the transfer this morning, the Phang Nga shelter remains heavily overcrowded, with 54 refugees still staying at the center (story here).

“Our shelter can comfortably accommodate only about 20 people… We have one big room, as well as three small rooms. The big room can comfortably fit only about 13 people, so the rest have to sleep on the floor in the corridors; on the stairs; and even in front of the toilet,” Ms Dararat said.

“I have heard that more are coming, but I have yet to be told how many. This is why we had to move some of the refugees to another shelter,” she explained.

The overcrowding has raised health concerns, despite a medical team attending to the refugees by treating a range of afflictions brought on by weeks at sea in open boats.

“Many of them are suffering skin diseases, and have serious stomach issues and diarrhea, as well as vomiting, due to the fact that they had been drinking the sea water,” Ms Dararat said.

However, four refugees at the Phang Nga Immigration center have been diagnosed with malaria – an affliction those at the Phang Nga shelter seem to have successfully avoided.

“So far, no contagious diseases have been found here at the shelter. Yesterday, we had a medical team check the 106 refugees and conduct blood tests for malaria. Anyone found to have malaria, including those sent to Surat Thani, will receive medical treatment,” Ms Dararat confirmed.

The donations of clothing and daily necessities that have been flooding in are greatly appreciated, she added.

For details of how to donate items to go to the welfare of Rohingya refugees, click here.

More Rohingya refugees found adrift off Thailand's coast

MP Prompong (standing, white shirt) plans to raise the issue of how to fund the necessary support for the Rohingya with the Pheu Thai Party in hopes of solving anticipated budget issues. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Saturday, January 26, 2013 
Phuket Gazette
Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Another group of desperate Rohingya refugees found shelter along the Khura Buri coast north of Phuket yesterday after 25 days at sea, making them the third group to land along Thailand’s Andaman coast this month.

The 96 refugees shared the same harrowing story as the 179 who came ashore on January 23: days at sea surviving on scant rations of water and uncooked rice (story here).

The group composed 62 men, six women, 14 boys and 14 girls, Khura Buri District Chief Manit Pianthong said.

“They departed the Rakhine State in Myanmar on January 1… They hoped to find work in Thailand or Malaysia,” Mr Manit explained.

“They were all exhausted and hungry when we found them. Some ate the uncooked rice that they had brought with them in front of officers and the media; others cried out as they finally reached the shore,” he said.

Of the 96 most recent arrivals,12 of them were sick and needed medical treatment.

Refugees were given necessary medical treatment and physical check-ups, as well as food and water. The group was then transferred to the Khura Buri Community Hall, which is now functioning as a temporary shelter until they can be deported, Mr Manit said.

There are now 340 refugees being held at the Phang Nga detention centers, as many of the refugees have already been transferred to other provinces to deal with the sudden influx of potential asylum seekers (story here). Of the 340 Rohingya, 48 are being held at the Phang Nga shelter for women and children; 180 are at the Phang Nga Immigration detention center; and 112 are in the Khura Buri Police Station.

“The refugees need three meals a day – we simply don’t have the funds to support them. So there are donation centers at the local level that are gathering donations and raising funds,” Pheu Thai Government Spokesman Prompong Nopparit said during his visit to the Khura Buri Community Hall yesterday.

On Monday, MP Prompong plans to raise the issue of funding the care for the Rohingya with the Pheu Thai Party in hopes of solving anticipated budget issues.

“If they stay here for several months, there will be monetary issues. I believe for now the government and private sector can continue to do their best to provide them with food and look after their health,” he said.

Phang Nga immigration overloaded, Rohingya relocated to centers across Southern Thailand

Some of the 270 Rohingya that Phang Nga officials could not accommodate were transferred to detention centers in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi provinces. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Friday, January 25, 2013
Phuket Gazette
Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: The 179 Rohingya refugees who arrived in Khura Buri District, north of Phuket, on January 23 have taken the Phang Nga Immigration facilities past breaking point, forcing authorities to relocate hundreds of Rohingya already being held at the Phang Nga detention center to immigration centers elsewhere in Southern Thailand.

“Yesterday, we brought 179 Rohingya from Khura Buri police station to our office. We already had 271 Rohingya here, and space for just 250, so we could not accommodate them,” Phang Nga Immigration officer Neti Khunboon told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

“The Phang Nga Immigration Superintendent ordered us to move 270 of the refugees to Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi immigration-detention centers today [January 25],” Maj Neti explained.

Maj Neti also confirmed to the Gazette that his team was working along with Phang Nga Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office to take care of the children who were part of the group of 179 Rohingya.

“We want to move them to a special Phang Nga shelter for women and children.” Maj Neti added.

The children have already been examined by Public Health Officers, who determined that five should be sent to Phang Nga hospital to receive treatment for fever, blood in the urine, and possible tuberculosis infection.

Rohingya: Only 4 meals in 16 days at sea

Thursday, January 24, 2013
Phuket Gazette 

PHUKET: The 179 Rohingya taken into custody north of Phuket yesterday survived on four meals of uncooked rice in their 16 days at sea, one of the survivors told officials.

Local fishermen spotted the refugees – fleeing escalating ethnic violence in their native Rakhine State in Myanmar – off the Phang Nga coast at about 11am.

About 30 officers from the Kuraburi District Office, Takuapa Border Patrol Police and Phang Nga Marine Police intercepted the single boat the refugees were travelling in about three nautical miles north of Koh Phra Thong (map here).

“They departed Rakhine State in Myanmar on January 7. They were at sea for 16 days, hoping to reach Thailand or Malaysia in order to find work,” Kuraburi District Chief Manit Pianthong said. "They all are exhausted."

“They said they had only four meals of uncooked rice and water since they left the state,” he added.

The refugees were taken to Kuraburi Community Hall. Nineteen of them were in need of urgent treatment and were immediately placed on saline drips by medical staff.

“Doctors and nurses were called in to take care of them – some of the refugees have fevers and others have open wounds. Doctors have placed them all on a course of antibiotics,” Chief Manit said.

“Officers have to provide them with food, drink and other care before handing them over to Phang Nga Immigration for deportation,” he added.

This latest arrival of Rohingya refugees in Phang Nga follows a welfare shelter in Khukkhak (story here), also in Phang Nga, on Monday calling for donations of daily necessities in order to provide assistance to 46 Rohingya women and children receiving shelter there.

Phuket Rohingya repatriated to Myanmar

The Rohingya rescued from an open boat adrift off Phuket, including
women and children who were fleeing violent persecution in their home state of Arakan,
are to be repatriated to Myanmar. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Phuket Gazette 
Wednesday, January 2, 2013

PHUKET: In a stunning development this morning, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut announced that the 71 Rohingya rescued from an open boat adrift off Phuket yesterday are en route to be repatriated to Myanmar.

The move to repatriate the refugees, including women and children, came at the request of the refugees themselves, Gov Maitri said.

Speaking at the monthly “Governor Meets the Press” meeting, Governor Maitri explained that Phuket Immigration had arranged to transport the 71 Rohingya – which included women and children fleeing violent persecution in their home state of Arakan in Myanmar – to Ranong, about 300km north of Phuket.

There, they will cross the border to re-enter Myanmar.

However, Governor Maitri also explained that the Thai government considers the Rohingya people as a people in need.

“They are like patients who need treatment. They said they were on their way to Malaysia, but ran out of fuel. They asked us for food and fuel. We gave them 200 liters of fuel for the long journey to Malaysia.

“However, they had already spent almost two weeks at sea – they departed their shores on December 19. They were exhausted; so instead of risking heading back out to sea to continue their journey, they decided to go back home,” Gov Maitri said.

Phuket Immigration was contacted and asked to organize food and transport for the refugees.

“They are being all being returned to the Ranong border by car. The cars left Phuket this morning,” Governor Maitri added.