FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bangkok, June6, 2011
94 Refugees Released from Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok Bangkok, June 6, 2011 On Monday, June 6, 94 refugees and 2 asylum seekers were released on bail from the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) in Bangkok. This was achieved in cooperation with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand and the Immigration Detention Centre authorities, while the Thai Committee for Refugees (TCR) has facilitated this process through its newly launched Refugee Freedom Fund.
A meeting marking the event on the 6th of June at the Bangkok Detention Centre in Suan Plu, was presided by the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commisssion of Dr. Amara Pongsapich. The meeting was attended by the National Human Rights Commissioner, Dr. Niran Pithawatchara, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Pol. Lt. Gen. Wiboon Bangthamai, Veerawit Tianchainan, Director of the Thai Committee for Refugees, Anoop Sukumaran, Coordinator, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, members from the Ahmadiya Muslim Community and others. The meeting brought the plight of refugees and especially those in detention to focus.
The release represents a historic development as it is the first time ever, that such a large number of detainees have been released and particularly that this was achieved by Thai civil society taking the lead in resolving of the refugee problem in Thailand. The 94 refugees include 34 children below the age of 12, among them is also one infant who was born in detention. All of them belong to the Ahmadiyya faith and their persecution has been particularly severe and systematic in Pakistan, which is the only state to have officially declared the Ahmadis to be non-Muslims and where they are persecuted for professing their religion.
The refugees were arrested in December 2010, in pre dawn raids at the residences of the refugees in Bangkok. Except two cases, all of the released detainees have been officially recognized as refugees by the UNHCR. Refugees fleeing persecution in their countries of origin are internationally recognized to be in need for protection from countries where they flee to, even if it is a transit country. However Thailand does not recognize their refugee status and UNHCR recognition offers no protection against arrest and detention by Thai authorities. Refugees and asylum seekers are governed by the same Immigration Act and as such considered to be illegal aliens. In Thailand, the lack of distinction between refugees, asylum seekers and other immigration offenders contributes to the further victimization of those seeking protection from persecution.
Conditions in the detention centre have been variously described as overcrowded, inhumane and unhygienic. Over 150 people have to share cells separated by gender which is meant for 30 to 40 people. Cells are so crowded that there is often no place for the detainees to sleep and families are separated from each other. It is often a situation of despair as the only way out of it is resettlement to a third country or return back to their country of origin. For refugees fleeing from persecution, returning to their country of origin is not an option, and waiting for resettlement to a third country is often long and uncertain and so the majority of them remain in detention for lengthy periods of time.
The release of the 96 can be traced back to a statement, coordinated by the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), demanding the release of the Ahmadi Pakistanis in January 2011. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand took immediate cognizance of the issue and formed a committee headed by a Human Rights Commissioner which along with members from APRRN and others conducted a fact finding mission to the Immigration Detention Centre. At a later point TCR and APRRN also arranged a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the issue. As a response TCR created the Refugee Freedom Fund to bail the most vulnerable refugees who are in detention centre indefinitely.
The Founder and Executive Director of TCR and Chair of the Southeast Asia Working Group of APRRN, Veerawit Tianchainan, stated that he is extremely pleased that the refugees can be bailed from the detention centre only 5 months after the statement was released. It is worthwhile to mention that is the first time that Thai civil society took initiative to assist and protect the rights of refugees in Thailand. Being an issue that was predominated by foreign organizations, it is hoped that this will change the dynamics and that the Thai government will consider establishing a legal framework and systematic mechanism to deal with all asylum seekers and refugees seeking protection in Thailand. Veerawit Tianchainan further notes that, ‘it is a welcoming step into the right direction of looking into alternatives to detention and more sustainable solutions to deal with the refugee problem in Thailand’.
The 94 refugees will continue to stay in Bangkok until they get resettled to a third country, where they get a chance to start a new life in freedom and security.
About the Thai Committee for Refugees: Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR) was founded in August 2010 and is one of the first registered Thai organizations with the mission to promote and protect the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons in Thailand and in the ASEAN region. Our mission is to facilitate public and policy reform while providing stateless, border, and urban refugee assistance representing a strategic shift in refugee operations in Thailand promoting more sustainable solutions for the future. After 26 years of Burmese refugee operations and decades of urban refugee programs in Thailand, we believe that it is the right time for initiating the mission of Thai people, by Thai people, and from Thai people for refugees. For more information visit www.thaiforrefugees.org
Contact information:
Thai Committee for Refugees
Veerawit Tianchainan Executive Director, Thai Committee for Refugees Chair, South East Asia Working Group, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network.
Tel: 0870960330
E-Mail: vtianchainan@thaiforrefugees.org
Web: www.thaiforrefugees.org
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