Guest timmberty Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 somethings just make you want to weep. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21106819 Quote
Rogie Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 Yes, well said Timmberty, LoS = Land of Scum Such a shame the country's image abroad should be scarred in this way. Unfortunately, that lovely image is long since tarnished following a succession of PR disasters (too numerous to mention). Both Burma and Thailand have shown themselves to be not only callous and uncaring, but devious and manipulative. It's no use saying, "Oh, it's only a few corrupt police or army personnel, or whoever" The culture whereby a local politician / police chief / army commander / businessman looks the other way, whilst pocketing a bulging brown envelope or securing a lucrative business contract is ingrained and corrosive. It is within that context that human life is viewed through some kind of prism, such that it makes the offenders feel as if they are dealing with mere objects. I can only hope that more reporters go in there and kick up a fuss so these b*****ds get what they deserve. The Romans sent miscreants to the galleys, that seems an appropriate enough punishment for anyone caught trafficking in people who've arrived in their country by sea. As for what to do with the Rohingya - I haven't a clue, but it may be about time the ASEAN group of countries, together with Bangladesh, got their heads around this. Hopefully they already have, but if so they need to do a lot more than nod their heads sagely, they need to bang a few together. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 This is a real problem that has been around for years, yet is going nowhere. Not even Aung Sang Suu Kyi is prepared to speak out on behalf of the Rohingyas. The Thai Army Chief has openly admitted some of his men were trafficking these poor people to work illegally in Malaysia, and of the need to weed out the "rotten apples " from his forces. However, past experience suggests this won't happen! But not all Thais are rotten apples. There was a touching photo in the Bangkok Post 3 days ago of a 14- year old Rohingya boy weeping in gratitude as he thanked the many Thais who had come to their camps to donate food. A huge procession of Thai people turned out to deliver food, cash and necessities to help Rohingya migrants confined in various shelters yesterday. Muhammad Sabare, 14, weeps in gratitude as he represents Rohingya youngsters who gathered to give thanks to people who donated food and other necessities to them at a shelter in Narathiwat yesterday. Locals donated to many shelters housing Rohingya across the southernmost provinces. WAEDAO HARAI In Narathiwat's Yi-ngo district, Nasaran Salae-ma, headmaster of Akrasatwitthaya School, imam representatives as well as Muslim and Buddhist people gave food, clothes and cash to Muhammad Sakee, chief of the Narathiwat Home for Children and Families, to help 18 Rohingya youths who were brought there. Shelter staff said health officials in Narathiwat will be contacted to conduct medical check-ups for the Rohingya. The staff members were concerned about their mental condition as many of them were traumatised from horrendous memories of their hometowns in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Muhammad Sabare, a 14-year-old Rohingya boy, led his group to pray for the donors' prosperity in return. Through translators, Muhammad pleaded with Thai authorities to help the Rohingya as he and his family were separated for more than two months. He also thanked Thai people who provided them with help. Close to 1,000 Rohingya have been detained in Thailand. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/331553/thais-open-hearts-to-rohingya-bringing-supplies-and-sympathy Quote
Guest timmberty Posted January 22, 2013 Posted January 22, 2013 we all know most thai people are good people, and not many politicians get into politics to help others, just to line their own pockets. but when people are being used and abused like this, it sadly reflecfs on the whole country.. thats the 3rd world i guess.. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 I regret it is not just the 3rd world. I can remember only too well the estimated 1.5 million boat people who fled from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the years after the American forces departure from S E Asia. Some countries actually towed the boats back out to sea even after they had landed - e.g. Malaysia! Quote
