AFP
An international rights watchdog has accused Thailand’s navy of shooting and killing Rohingya asylum-seekers fleeing ethnic tensions in Burma, but Thai officials have rejected the claims.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday that according to survivors, navy sailors fired on a group of some 20 Rohingya asylum-seekers on Feb. 22, killing two of them.
The incident in Phang Na province’s Kuraburi district occurred while the sailors were pushing the group back out to sea after they fled sectarian violence in western Burma’s Rakhine state, HRW said, urging Thailand to prosecute the shooters.
Officials in Thailand, which has faced criticism for deporting Rohingyas back to Burma or detaining them as illegal immigrants, denied the allegations, saying soldiers had no reason to hurt the migrants.
"The Thai navy commander responsible for that area has rejected the report," said foreign ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol, according to Agence France-Presse.
Defense ministry spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsang also refuted the claims, saying Thailand acts "on humanitarian principles" to provide food and water to Rohingyas before allowing them to travel on southward to Malaysia.
Thousands of Rohingyas, a predominantly Muslim group considered one of the world’s most persecuted minorities by the U.N., have been denied citizenship by Burma even though they have lived there for generations.
Ethnic clashes last year between Rohingyas and Buddhist Rakhines in Rakhine state left at least 180 dead and thousands homeless, with the Rohingya believed to have borne the brunt of the violence.
HRW called on Thailand to ensure its navy is adhering to international standards on the use of force.
“Rohingya fleeing Burma should be given protection, not shot at,” said the group’s Asia director Brad Adams.
“The Thai government should urgently investigate why sailors opened fire at boat people helpless in the sea and prosecute all those found responsible.”
To austin from magura,
You know this, Rohinya is lawless people. They don't respect the right of the house's owner where they take shelter in. They are worse and ungrateful like a crocodile. They make problems again and again. You ... may don't know that they even used to start a rebellion to create their Muslim state in Buddhist Rakhine state and killing many Buddhist people in the past. Now you reasoned this problem caused by a girl... NO No it's not caused just by a girl. It is caused by their countless intolerable and barbaric actions of this shameful, dirty, disgraceful Rohinya Muslim. Now Rakhine people can't accept this anymore. They can't tolerate this ...
[This comment has been edited by RFA Editorial staff per our Terms of Use]
Apr 10, 2013 08:55 AM
This is nothing these brute, the beast Thai cannot do when the Thai navy killed the helpless Rohingyas and the world voiced against their inhumane action then the criminal Thai just tried to say Not at all. It is the same case whenever the Thai army murdered Cambodian people crossed the border every time, the robber Thai said Never. The world must strongly condemn and punish the Thai for their animal mind.
Mar 14, 2013 02:07 AM
Reporters are always hidding about the rapping and killing Burmese girl by 3 Illegal Bangalis. Only accusing Buddhism Rakhines as problem maker.
Mar 13, 2013 09:20 PM
well, you can't kill 3000 people only for one person... You've law, you've police... But why, why, why, the stupid Buddhism supporter killed so many innocent muslim people? If you still think that one girl's life is more importent than 3000 innocent muslim than you're stupid fool... Open your eyes and mind, stupid...
Mar 17, 2013 02:56 PM
