Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) - Masses of people face enormous sacrifices and great dangers to flee their home countries and seek refuge in nearby Thailand. In recent years hundreds of thousands of refugees from Laos and Myanmar, North Korea and Bangladesh have taken shelter in Thailand. Since they have no right to Thai nationality or any type of assistance, these people are simply “non existent”. This is reported by the Catholic aid agency Jesuit Refugees Service (JRS) which operates in the area.
Four months since a coup and a change in government in Thailand, the National Security Council - as it is now called - announced new rigid positions with regard to national security including strict control of refugee camps. The NSC says no more refugees will be accepted not even from Myanmar where violation of human rights continues. Those who do arrive from Myanmar and Laos will be simply “illegal immigrants” who do not qualify for the protection and rights granted to ‘asylum seekers’.
A consequent problem is that for Thai law a child born to immigrants or refugees cannot be registered and is therefore ‘non existent’. The volunteers of the Jesuit Refugees Service have asked the government of Bangkok to reconsider this approach and to adopt policies which respect the inalienable rights and dignity of every human person. The JRS calls on the Thai government and the international community not to shirk responsibilities with regard to asylum seekers especially the large number of refugees from Myanmar. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/2/2007 righe 27 parole 271)
