Regional News

Thailand Political Unrest Distracts from Disastrous South

Violence in Thailand’s southern regions has become commonplace in the past few years

YALA – With Thailand having just gone to the polls for an historic election, in which some 6 million voters were unable to cast ballots, international media have zeroed in on the protests raging on the streets of Bangkok, where an emergency decree has been in place for about two weeks.

Given its status as one of the most visited cities in the world, concern about the violent flare-ups is understandable. But much of the mainstream coverage has neglected an important and underreported issue in Thailand: the ongoing violence and human rights abuses in the country’s southernmost provinces along the Malaysian border. In this area, there have been emergency laws in place for nearly a decade.

The predominantly Muslim region was included within the borders of Thailand after the signing of the Anglo-Siamese Treatyin 1909. There has been long-standing unrest ever since, due in part to forced assimilation policies implemented by successive Thai governments. In the past 10 years, however, this unrest has escalated to unprecedented heights, with a steady pattern of sectarian violence targeting state authorities, religious figures, teachers, and civilians, including children. Bombings have become commonplace, the threat of murder and authoritarian reprisals loom large, and the people in these locations – many of them rural poor – live in constant fear.

On the surface, a simple casualty toll can provide a glimpse into the extent of the problem. According to the recent reports from the Bangkok Post, nearly 6000 people have been killed and close to 10,000 people injured since 2004. And the violence has showed no sign of slowing down. According to the region’s Internal Security Operations Command, there were 320 bombings in the four border provinces between January and December 2013. This is up from 276 reported bombings in 2012. And already in 2014 there have been attacks that have killed and wounded several police officers, including four dead in the week of the elections.

Beneath the surface, however, this problem is layered and very complex. While it’s easy to label these separatist groups as “terrorists”, one can’t ignore the role the Thai government has played in this evolving conflict. Since 2005, three pieces of special legislation have been in place throughout the region at various times, though often concurrently: Martial Law, the Internal Security Act, and the Emergency Decree (which is the same piece of legislation recently invoked in Bangkok). Used alone, or in tandem, these measures provide security and law enforcement officers with extraordinary powers to make arrests without warrants and to detain suspects in secret locations for periods of up to 37 days.

These laws have allowed for human rights violations such as torture, forced confessions, disappearances and extrajudicial killings. One example is the 2004 forced disappearance of Muslim lawyer and human rights activist Somchai Neelapaijit, presumed by many to be dead. The laws have also raised doubts about the fairness and impartiality of the justice system. Specific cases of injustices have been highlighted in reports by nonprofit organisations such as the Thailand Union for Civil Liberties, the Cross Cultural Foundation and the Muslim Attorney Council, which provides legal assistance to southern Muslims suspected of insurgency. In many of the terrorist cases, which are punishable by death, these doubts over court impartiality are very concerning indeed.

What makes it all the more surprising that international media hasn’t paid more attention to the south during the recent Bangkok protests is the role played by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the polarising figure at the centre of the country’s political chaos, pitting “red shirts” against “yellow shirts”. Shinawatra may have cemented his party’s stranglehold on power with his favour in the populous northern provinces, but in the deep south, he has played a fundamental role in exacerbating tensions.

After his rise to power in 2001, Shinawatra dismantled the Border Administrative Centre, which served as a liaison to Muslim leaders. Shinawatra’s now infamous war on drugs, which claimed the lives of more than 2,800 Thais, including many Malay Muslims, provoked even more tension in the region. Arbitrary arrests and police brutality, along with the constant threat of cultural erosion, are considered, by many, to be significant catalysts leading to the current conflict, which erupted with three separate incidents in 2004.

While two of these incidents involved insurgent attacks, the third saw government forces crack down on a protest outside a police station. More than 80 protesters died, many of suffocation while being transported to a military base, in which they were restrained and stacked upon each other in trucks, five or six deep. After the incident, known as the Tak Bai Protest, Shinawatra enraged Muslims and drew international criticism when he blamed the Ramadan fast for weakening the deceased.

The current administration of Yingluck Shinawatra came into power with grand visions of providing greater economic autonomy to the region, but little in the way of concrete reform has been realised, and nothing has been done to quell the violence.

Election Day has come and gone, but the political saga is far from over. More protests are expected in the coming weeks as by-elections are held, votes are slowly tallied, and protesters hope to nullify the results. And on the ground, there are concerns among Thais that more violence will materialise if the current administration is toppled, either by the courts or the military.

But with all eyes turned to Bangkok, it’s important to remember that unrest in Thailand isn’t confined to its largest city. Serious human rights abuses and deep-seated social problems continue to plague this fragile country, which many tourists have come to associate, quite simply, with tranquil island beaches. One thing is certain: It will take concerted political effort and considerable legal reform to have any chance at finding a solution to the disastrous situation in the country’s south.

Myles Gough

Myles Gough is a freelance journalist currently in Bangkok. He is a graduate of Carleton University in Canada, and has written for the Globe and Mail, New Matilda, and the Australian science magazine Cosmos.

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post