{"id":6626,"date":"2009-01-23T18:26:05","date_gmt":"2009-01-23T18:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mekongmigration.org\/?p=336"},"modified":"2021-07-20T14:12:23","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T06:12:23","slug":"anmmmn-open-letterpushing-boatpeople-into-international-waters-is-inconsistent-with-international-humanitarian-principles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mekongmigration.org\/?p=6626","title":{"rendered":"MMN\/ANM Open letter:Pushing boatpeople into international waters is inconsistent with international humanitarian principles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color=\"#800000\">[<\/font><font color=\"#800000\">MMN\/<\/font><font color=\"#800000\">ANM Open letter] Pushing boatpeople into international waters is  inconsistent with international humanitarian principles<\/font><\/p>\n<p>Mr. Wanchat Wongchaichana<br \/>\nRanong Governor<\/p>\n<p>23 January 2009<\/p>\n<p>Dear Honorable Governor,<\/p>\n<p>Action Network for Migrants (Thailand) and the Mekong Migration Network are extremely concerned about your recent statement advocating a further tightening of entry into Thai sovereign waters  to prevent Rohingya boat people from landing on Thai soil (\u0e1c\u0e39\u0e49\u0e27\u0e48\u0e32\u0e2f \u0e23\u0e30\u0e19\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e25\u0e31\u0e48\u0e19\u0e08\u0e30\u0e1c\u0e25\u0e31\u0e01\u0e14\u0e31\u0e19\u0e44\u0e21\u0e48\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49 &#8216;\u0e42\u0e23\u0e2e\u0e34\u0e07\u0e22\u0e32&#8217; \u0e02\u0e36\u0e49\u0e19\u0e1d\u0e31\u0e48\u0e07\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e19\u0e02\u0e32\u0e14\u0e42\u0e14\u0e22\u0e43\u0e0a\u0e49 &#8216;\u0e2b\u0e25\u0e31\u0e01\u0e21\u0e19\u0e38\u0e29\u0e22\u0e18\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21&#8217;!? in Prachatai, 20 January 2009, also quoted in Komchadkuak, 20 January 2009).<\/p>\n<p>In the same comment, we noted that you referred to Thailand\u2019s commitment to adhere to established \u201cinternational humanitarian principles\u201d.As you may be aware, the Australian government implemented a similar \u201cturning back the boats\u201d policy, which resulted in deplorable consequences for the concerned boat people. (See, for example \u201cA Just Australia\u201d<br \/>\nhttp:\/\/www.ajustaustralia.com\/informationandresources_campaignkits.php?act=campaign_kits&amp;id=36). It seems clear that turning away people on poorly equipped boats is completely inconsistent with humanitarian principles and your obligations under international law.<\/p>\n<p>Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is party, states one\u2019s right to life. Section 32 of the Thai constitution re-affrims this principle, stating that \u201cA person shall enjoy the right and liberty in his life and person. A torture, brutal act or punishment by a cruel or inhumane means shall not be made\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), to which Thailand has also ratified, confirms your general obligation to assist those in distress and to ensure that all ships are sufficiently and efficiently manned from a safety point of view. . We remind you that forcing Rohingya boat people back into the high seas in unsafe vessels is an infringement of this principle which applies to all ships on all voyages.<\/p>\n<p>As we have explained in an attached letter addressed to the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dated 20th of January 2009, the Action Network for Migrants and the Mekong Migration Network urge all Thai authorities to protect the security, safety and well being of the Rohingya who are seeking safety and refuge on Thai soil.  We urge your respectful authorities not to turn these people back into the high seas but to treat them with dignity and provide them with necessary facilities and support needed for survival in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relevant support groups in accordance with international humanitarian standards.<\/p>\n<p>We look forward to your urgent action on this matter.<\/p>\n<p>Yours sincerely,<\/p>\n<p>Action Network for Migrants (Thailand)<br \/>\nMekong Migration Network<\/p>\n<p>Cc:<br \/>\n1.\tPrime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva<br \/>\n2.\tThe National Human Rights Commission of Thailand<br \/>\n3.\tMinistry of Interior<\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#800000\">Thai version <a href=\"https:\/\/mekongmigration.org\/PDF%20for%20MMN%20Activities\/Open%20Letter%20to%20Ranong%20Governor_Thai.pdf\">(PDF136KB)<\/a><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[MMN\/ANM Open letter] Pushing boatpeople into international waters is inconsistent with international humanitarian principles Mr. Wanchat Wongchaichana Ranong Governor 23 January 2009 Dear Honorable Governor, Action Network for Migrants (Thailand) and the Mekong Migration Network are extremely concerned about your recent statement advocating a further tightening of entry into Thai sovereign waters to prevent Rohingya [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[107,149],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release","category-press-release_english","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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