ID :
41618
Tue, 01/20/2009 - 15:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/41618
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Army chief: No Thai abuse of illegal Myanmar immigrants
BANGKOK, Jan 20 (TNA) - Thai Army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda reemphasized Tuesday that the Thai military have dealt with the illegal immigrants from the ethnic minority Rohingya community under international human rights criteria and have not committed any abuse against them.
A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report charged that the Royal Thai Navy mishandled illegal immigrants by setting them adrift off the Thai coast on a boat with no engine and limited food and water supplies. The Rohingya immigrants belonging to ethnic minority Rohingyas from the Myanmar-Bangladesh border who had travelled to Thailand in search of work.
Gen. Anupong said the military was investigating the incident by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's order whether the treatment was properly or not.
However the Army chief said he was confident that no Thai officials used violence in their conduct with the attempting migrant workers and they adhere to international standards and principles of human rights in dealing with illegal immigrants.
The Army chief added that Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Kamthorn Poomhiran had showed photographs confirming that the Navy had treated the illegal immigrants in a humanitarian manner and that the images shown by the foreign media were probably taken by tourists who did not understand the procedures of the authorities.
According to Admiral Kamthorn, over 200 illegal immigrants at that time entered the country while there were only 18 naval personnel so it was necessary for the Thai personnel to order them to take off their shirts to make sure that they were not armed.
Asked whether the incident would impact Thai-Myanmar relations, Gen Anupong said that the bilateral ties between Thailand and Myanmar were recently strengthened and the two sides had a good attitude towards each other, especially as Bangkok had given aid to Myanmar after the country was heavily hit by Cyclone Nargis last year. (TNA)
A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report charged that the Royal Thai Navy mishandled illegal immigrants by setting them adrift off the Thai coast on a boat with no engine and limited food and water supplies. The Rohingya immigrants belonging to ethnic minority Rohingyas from the Myanmar-Bangladesh border who had travelled to Thailand in search of work.
Gen. Anupong said the military was investigating the incident by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's order whether the treatment was properly or not.
However the Army chief said he was confident that no Thai officials used violence in their conduct with the attempting migrant workers and they adhere to international standards and principles of human rights in dealing with illegal immigrants.
The Army chief added that Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Kamthorn Poomhiran had showed photographs confirming that the Navy had treated the illegal immigrants in a humanitarian manner and that the images shown by the foreign media were probably taken by tourists who did not understand the procedures of the authorities.
According to Admiral Kamthorn, over 200 illegal immigrants at that time entered the country while there were only 18 naval personnel so it was necessary for the Thai personnel to order them to take off their shirts to make sure that they were not armed.
Asked whether the incident would impact Thai-Myanmar relations, Gen Anupong said that the bilateral ties between Thailand and Myanmar were recently strengthened and the two sides had a good attitude towards each other, especially as Bangkok had given aid to Myanmar after the country was heavily hit by Cyclone Nargis last year. (TNA)
