UNHCR wants access to abused Myanmar refugees

A Thai court on Wednesday convicted 66 barefooted, broken down Myanmar migrants of illegally entering the country. A Ranong provincial court judge sentenced each defendant to five days in prison after none of them was able to pay a 1,000 baht ($30) fine. Four were brought to the court from the hospital, one carried by two men because his legs were broken.

On Thursday, Thailand was supposed to grant the U.N. access to these 66 boat people following allegations that Thai officials had earlier abused asylum seekers beached on its shores. But Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not allow the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees access to all Rohingya refugees.

However, UNHCR representative Raymond Hall said that he had asked the Thai government to investigate treatment of the refugees in a transparent and urgent manner and was positive that UNHCR would be granted access to the refugees.

Talking to reporters after meeting with Hall, Kasit said solving the problem will require cooperation from the United Nations, Southeast Asian nations and the international community at large.

“The world community has to help,” he said.

On the other hand Thai authorities insist that they do not force migrants out to sea but only detain and repatriate people entering the country illegally. The Foreign Ministry added that Thailand faces an “enormous burden” because of 3 million illegal migrants currently in the country.