What is a country to do—just about anywhere in the world these days massive numbers of migrants are on the move looking for jobs and social services.
In and around Southeast Asia it’s impossible to do the Greek model of border security.
Thailand won’t let this latest group of Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers stay and the UN is not happy.
In Australia those arriving by boat get to stay, but are placed in detention and there is almost daily news about the pressure on the government there to not be so inhumane. So, what is a country that wishes to survive do?
Here is the latest fuming from the NGOs and the UN:
Thai authorities say Rohingya Muslim refugees allegedly fleeing sectarian violence and persecution in western Burma must be sent back to their homeland.
The 73 migrants, including women and children, were found drifiting in a small, overcrowded boat off the Thai resort town of Phuket, well short of their final destination of Malaysia.
Thai authorities intercepted the boat, which had been at sea for 13 days, and provided the refugees with food and supplies on Tuesday. But local media reported Wednesday they have been arrested and ordered to return to Burma by land.
Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, says that Thailand should suspend any plan to deport the refugees until the United Nations refugee agency has a chance to determine whether they have legitimate claims for protection.
He says Thai authorities, who are reluctant to absorb migrant workers from neighboring countries, must come up with a better policy for dealing with boat people.
Then here is more—UN puts pressure on Thailand. (see the photo, Camp of the Saints anyone?)
It is just a matter of time before the US steps in and says to countries like Thailand (as they did Malta), heck we will take a few off your hands.
Come to think of it, where are the nations of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) with their Muslim charity? They should be taking in their Muslim brethren!
For new readers: This is our 130th post on the Rohingya issue, here.