The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
#1
The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
I'm sure everyone's read about the poor souls marooned on Langkawi. Now looks like there's a boat off Penang island too.
From today's Star Online:
GEORGE TOWN: A boat crammed with more than 500 illegal immigrants has been found off the coast of Penang island, the latest evidence that thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are desperately trying to reach land after being abandoned by their human traffickers.
There is no information if the overcrowded boat will be allowed to come on shore, said Zafar Ahmad, who heads the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation of Malaysia.
“We urge the Malaysian Government to give these Rohingya refugees protection and shelter,” he said.
It is learnt that the boat will be towed to the island today.
500 illegals found off Penang - Nation | The Star Online
From today's Star Online:
GEORGE TOWN: A boat crammed with more than 500 illegal immigrants has been found off the coast of Penang island, the latest evidence that thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are desperately trying to reach land after being abandoned by their human traffickers.
There is no information if the overcrowded boat will be allowed to come on shore, said Zafar Ahmad, who heads the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation of Malaysia.
“We urge the Malaysian Government to give these Rohingya refugees protection and shelter,” he said.
It is learnt that the boat will be towed to the island today.
500 illegals found off Penang - Nation | The Star Online
#2
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
Malaysia turns away 800 boat people; Thailand spots 3rd boat
JC3
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 104
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
It looks like Malaysia has turned them away too, according to AP.
Malaysia turns away 800 boat people; Thailand spots 3rd boat
JC3
Malaysia turns away 800 boat people; Thailand spots 3rd boat
JC3
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,755
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
These people entered Malaysia illegally for years to be exploited, underpaid and mistreated, now due to the crack down of human trafficking on the Thai side they are set adrift. IMO Malaysia has an obligation to help these people, after all it was Malaysia that has benefitted from them for considerable time.
And now any illegal immigrants crossing the Med to Europe should be sent back says Teressa May in UK.
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 104
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
Well the rest of the EU is at least trying to resolve the problem in the Mediterranean.
Malaysia chairs the ASEAN at the moment and should in that role be more proactive but apart from pushing them back to sea they don't offer ideas or solutions.
Fortunately the Thais feel a bigger responsibility and PM Prayuth has called for a regional conference end of May on this subject. Unfortunately all of the other countries involved have yet to respond to his initiative.
Malaysia chairs the ASEAN at the moment and should in that role be more proactive but apart from pushing them back to sea they don't offer ideas or solutions.
Fortunately the Thais feel a bigger responsibility and PM Prayuth has called for a regional conference end of May on this subject. Unfortunately all of the other countries involved have yet to respond to his initiative.
#6
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
These people entered Malaysia illegally for years to be exploited, underpaid and mistreated, now due to the crack down of human trafficking on the Thai side they are set adrift. IMO Malaysia has an obligation to help these people, after all it was Malaysia that has benefitted from them for considerable time.
#7
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
Thailand has been sending them back to Burma (where of course they won't survive) for quite a long time. Try this link just for a start off from a year ago:
Thailand sends Rohingya Muslims back to Burma - BBC News
And can remember when I was living in Thailand, 7 or 8 years ago, when they were rounding them up at Ranong (near the Burmese border).
The real problem is not Malaysia nor Thailand. It is Burma. So some pressure needs to be put on Burma. That's the solution.
What about Singapore? My god, so much business done between Singapore and Burma.... and all the important folks in Burma get their medical problems sorted out in Singapore. Got to be some leverage there if Singapore has the balls to do something.
Thailand sends Rohingya Muslims back to Burma - BBC News
And can remember when I was living in Thailand, 7 or 8 years ago, when they were rounding them up at Ranong (near the Burmese border).
The real problem is not Malaysia nor Thailand. It is Burma. So some pressure needs to be put on Burma. That's the solution.
What about Singapore? My god, so much business done between Singapore and Burma.... and all the important folks in Burma get their medical problems sorted out in Singapore. Got to be some leverage there if Singapore has the balls to do something.
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 104
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
Thailand indeed deports them overland but pushing an overcrowded vessel full of hungry people (and abandoned by the crew who should navigate it) back to sea is a different matter IMO. If they keep doing this it's just a matter of time before dead bodies wash ashore on Penang and Langkawi beaches, just like in Italy.
Last edited by Stuurman; May 15th 2015 at 8:59 am.
#9
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
This is a complex international issue and the reasons that particular people are transiting between countries are very different. The common themes are that (i) big money is made by crooks indulging in this trade (ii) there is ignorance on the part of the passengers as to how their trip may end and (iii) the countries from where they are departing are the only ones who can stop it.
Any country accepting refugees is tacitly encouraging this trade.
My solution would be to put them in a boat and take them back from whence they came to spread the word among other potential victims (but then I'm not a politician).
Any country accepting refugees is tacitly encouraging this trade.
My solution would be to put them in a boat and take them back from whence they came to spread the word among other potential victims (but then I'm not a politician).
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 104
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
They countries they are departing from are very often failed states, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Irak and in case of the Rohingyas Burma, where they have no status. The reason they leave is utter despair. Taking them back without doing anything about the circumstances they initially fled from will have little result IMO, they will just try again it's their only chance.
Last edited by Stuurman; May 15th 2015 at 10:44 am.
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,755
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
Migrant crisis: 800 taken ashore in Indonesia but two other boats turned away - Asia - World - The Independent
You can imagine the OUTRAGE in this article and other British newspapers if similar hadn't already occurred in the Med.
Interesting comment at the bottom about nearly all male and few children.
You can imagine the OUTRAGE in this article and other British newspapers if similar hadn't already occurred in the Med.
Interesting comment at the bottom about nearly all male and few children.
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2014
Location: Penang
Posts: 618
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
It is certainly a dilemma.
Allowing refugees to enter the countries to which they flee will only result in increased traffic(king) and conflicts.
As already said by BB, the situation can only be improved by actions in the respective countries of origin.
And of course stringent laws and enforcement regarding human trafficking also in the recipient countries.
As per Wikipedia, the total number of Rohingyas seems to be a total of 1.5-2M with 800k in Myanmar, 400k in Saudi, 300k in Bangla Desh, 200k in Pakistan, 100k in Thailand and 40k in Malaysia.
Allowing refugees to enter the countries to which they flee will only result in increased traffic(king) and conflicts.
As already said by BB, the situation can only be improved by actions in the respective countries of origin.
And of course stringent laws and enforcement regarding human trafficking also in the recipient countries.
As per Wikipedia, the total number of Rohingyas seems to be a total of 1.5-2M with 800k in Myanmar, 400k in Saudi, 300k in Bangla Desh, 200k in Pakistan, 100k in Thailand and 40k in Malaysia.
Last edited by Gunnar45; May 15th 2015 at 1:32 pm.
#13
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
You have to understand that mixed in with the genuine people claiming refugee status are terrorists looking for an easy passage.
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 83
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
^Well that definitely throws a wrench in things.
Apparently there are over 1.5 million of these guys so the problem is not going away anytime soon.
Does anyone know the likelihood of the UN cracking down on Burma, forcing them to recognize the Rohingyas as equal citizens under the threat of heavy sanctions?
Apparently there are over 1.5 million of these guys so the problem is not going away anytime soon.
Does anyone know the likelihood of the UN cracking down on Burma, forcing them to recognize the Rohingyas as equal citizens under the threat of heavy sanctions?
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 706
Re: The Rohingyas and Bangladeshis abandoned
^Well that definitely throws a wrench in things.
Apparently there are over 1.5 million of these guys so the problem is not going away anytime soon.
Does anyone know the likelihood of the UN cracking down on Burma, forcing them to recognize the Rohingyas as equal citizens under the threat of heavy sanctions?
Apparently there are over 1.5 million of these guys so the problem is not going away anytime soon.
Does anyone know the likelihood of the UN cracking down on Burma, forcing them to recognize the Rohingyas as equal citizens under the threat of heavy sanctions?