Thread: Thailand : Samak wants Rohingya put on an island

MUSLIMS FROM BURMA

Samak wants Rohingya put on an island
Saturday March 29, 2008
WASSANA NANUAM


Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said yesterday the navy is exploring a deserted island to place Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority group from Burma who illegally slipped into the country from the southern provinces, especially Ranong.

Mr Samak said the relocation of the illegal migrants will be in the care of the Interior Ministry and the National Security Council, adding the resettlement of the Rohingya is a matter of urgency.

The prime minister made the statement after emerging from a two-hour meeting of the National Security Council yesterday.

''To stop the influx, we have to keep them in a tough place. Those who are about to follow will have to know life here will be difficult in order that they won't sneak in,'' he said.

Mr Samak said the United Nations (UN), especially the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), should step in and provide financial support to the Thai government which had shouldered the Rohingya burden for quite some time.

Although the Rohingya Muslims have nothing to do with the southern unrest, the influx must stop, Mr Samak added.

Meanwhile, Maj-Gen Peerapong Manakij, deputy spokesman for defence, said Mr Samak placed a greater emphasis on a non-violent approach to deal with the southern unrest.

Violence is not the way to deal with the unrest in the restive region. Instead, fair judicial processes and changing the mindsets of local people could reverse the trend toward deeper rifts within the multiracial region.

Maj-Gen Peerapong also said that the prime minister had agreed to the army's request for a five-billion-baht increase in the annual fiscal budget allocation to improve the welfare of soldiers, especially conscripts.

The increased financial benefits for new recruits would allow them to earn up to the minimum wage.

bangkokpost.com

'To stop the influx, we have to keep them in a tough place. Those who are about to follow will have to know life here will be difficult in order that they won't sneak in,'' he said.

He is a darling, isn't he?!

Where did his ancestors come from? Would he like them to have been treated like this? But then that's a moot point, isn't it as Burma, the military murdering dictatorship, is a friend.

This guy just gets better and better, pass the popcorn.

I'm wondering if it's all a thaksin plan to make even his enemies welcome him back.

I can't think of any other reason for this guy...

what a freaking idiot, when is Taxin back ? he must be laughing his ass off and waiting for his fall to make a triumphant come back.

Originally Posted by Mid

MUSLIMS FROM BURMA

Maj-Gen Peerapong also said that the prime minister had agreed to the army's request for a five-billion-baht increase in the annual fiscal budget allocation to improve the welfare of soldiers, especially conscripts.

The increased financial benefits for new recruits would allow them to earn up to the minimum wage.

bangkokpost.com

WTF!!!!!

Its going to take 5 bilion Baht a year to bring squaddies salary to the minimum wage??? ( currently 198 baht / day I believe)

Amazing Thailand indeed !

same , same but different


PM says government will tackle illegal immigrants more seriously
29 March 2008

The Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Mr. Samak Sundaravej (สมัคร สุนทรเวช), says the Ministry of Defence yesterday (March 28th) had a discussion on illegal immigrants in Thailand.

He says the meeting resolved to take legal actions against them, especially the minority groups.

He says relevant units will try to locate their refuges, and they will be exiled from the country.

However, the Prime Minister insists that the illegal immigrants in Thailand are not involved with the ongoing insurgency in the three southern border provinces, but they have to be taken out of the country as soon as possible.

Mr. Samak says the budget for this plan will be divided into two parts, namely the Thai government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

thainews.prd.go.th

so I wonder what he has got against ' plain vanilla concentration camps ' - or not enough international condemnation in that strategy.

deserted islands in this day and age are usually deserted for a reason - like no fresh water supply etc.

illegal immigrants in Thailand are not involved with the ongoing insurgency in the three southern border provinces, but they have to be taken out of the country as soon as possible.

I suggest a bus, or two.

Australia did a similar thing a few years back did they not?

Yeah Australia did this and it seemed to work well for the government, blame immigrants for everything, demonise then so we look away while the government screw us on the bigger issues, thankfully that was our previous government the new one seems a little more sensible in relation to humanitarian issues.

What I would like to know is: will they be charged the foreign tourist admission fee for entrance to the island?

^Why? It's not in a national park.

the hill tribe village is ??

Originally Posted by Mid

the hill tribe village is ??

No, the the hill tribe village is not. They don't charge the refugees to get in there either, just the tourists.