Homeless Rohingya Boat People Face Detention Deadline
June 27,2013
A six-month deadline for a “temporary stay” in Thailand ends next month for almost 2,000 boat people who claimed to be Rohingya escaping ethnic violence in Burma - as reports surface of mistreatment at Thai immigration detention centers.
Deep in the hills of southern Thailand, local rubber tappers are known to be early risers.
But in recent months, there has been more than just the locals wandering through the plantations, out of sight to most people.
Earlier this year, Thai resident Arun Somphot woke up to a small group of “boat people” sleeping on her front porch.
“When I saw them sleeping there, I was behind this door trying to see who they were. I have my family and relatives who stay in homes nearby. I opened the door and saw many of them sleeping there and I was shocked. They saw me and just got up and sat there. Then I let out a scream," said Arun.
Since January, nearly 2,000 boat people, claiming to be Rohingyas fleeing sectarian violence in Burma have been apprehended and detained by Thai authorities.
Denied citizenship in their own country and desperate to escape persecution, many are vulnerable to exploitation.
Abdul Salaman was held captive in the Thai jungle with a group of fellow Rohingya by traffickers who brought him from Burma. He was released after his relatives in Malaysia paid $1,500 for his freedom.
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