NAKHON SI THAMMARAT – Representatives from the United Nations refugee agency visited 99 Rohingya who were recently rescued from suspected human traffickers in southern Thailand today.

Police intercepted 102 Rohingya refugees in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on 13 January. The refugees, many of whom are children, were found crammed into the back of several pickup trucks when police found them.

Two Thai drivers were arrested and charged with human trafficking, while others managed to flee the scene, police say. 

Three of the 102 Rohingya have died since they were rescued. One woman was found crushed to death at the scene, and two men died in police custody, one from dehydration and another from an infection. Police previously told the media that 98 refugees were found, but corrected the number to 102 yesterday, citing a "miscalculation."

Today officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) inspected the condition of the 99 Rohingya, who are being kept in a shelter in Hua Sai. The officials brought food and other necessities, as well as toys and educational equipment for the young refugees.

Serge Bertomio (name transcribed from Thai text), a UNHCR field officer, told reporters through an interpreter that the UNHCR is coordinating with the Thai government to tackle issues related to the plight of the Rohingya. 

Many Rohingya hail from the Rakhine state of Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship by the Burmese government. 

Waves of religious and ethnic violence in Rakhine have driven tens of thousands of Rohingya to flee their homes by boats and other means in recent years. It is believed that up to 140,000 Rohingya have been displaced by anti-Rohingya violence. According to the UN, the Rohingya are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. 

Reports by human rights groups and foreign media agencies have revealed instances of Thai smugglers exploiting the plight of the Rohingya by charging them exorbitant fees in exchange for promises of a safe passage to another country.

However, many Rohingya never make it to their final destination, which is often Malaysia, because they are held for ransom in Thailand or sold as slaves to boats in the Thai fishing industry.

An officer at Hua Sai Police Station said the court has issued arrest warrants on three more Thais allegedly involved in the human trafficking of the Rohingya.  

"We are looking for them. Their charges carry a statue of limitation of up to 15 years," the officer said. 

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NAKHON SI THAMMARAT – Representatives from the United Nations refugee agency visited 99 Rohingya who were recently rescued from suspected human traffickers in southern Thailand today.

Police intercepted 102 Rohingya refugees in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on 13 January. The refugees, many of whom are children, were found crammed into the back of several pickup trucks when police found them.

Two Thai drivers were arrested and charged with human trafficking, while others managed to flee the scene, police say. 

Three of the 102 Rohingya have died since they were rescued. One woman was found crushed to death at the scene, and two men died in police custody, one from dehydration and another from an infection. Police previously told the media that 98 refugees were found, but corrected the number to 102 yesterday, citing a "miscalculation."

Today officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) inspected the condition of the 99 Rohingya, who are being kept in a shelter in Hua Sai. The officials brought food and other necessities, as well as toys and educational equipment for the young refugees.

Serge Bertomio (name transcribed from Thai text), a UNHCR field officer, told reporters through an interpreter that the UNHCR is coordinating with the Thai government to tackle issues related to the plight of the Rohingya. 

Many Rohingya hail from the Rakhine state of Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship by the Burmese government. 

Waves of religious and ethnic violence in Rakhine have driven tens of thousands of Rohingya to flee their homes by boats and other means in recent years. It is believed that up to 140,000 Rohingya have been displaced by anti-Rohingya violence. According to the UN, the Rohingya are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. 

Reports by human rights groups and foreign media agencies have revealed instances of Thai smugglers exploiting the plight of the Rohingya by charging them exorbitant fees in exchange for promises of a safe passage to another country.

However, many Rohingya never make it to their final destination, which is often Malaysia, because they are held for ransom in Thailand or sold as slaves to boats in the Thai fishing industry.

An officer at Hua Sai Police Station said the court has issued arrest warrants on three more Thais allegedly involved in the human trafficking of the Rohingya.  

"We are looking for them. Their charges carry a statue of limitation of up to 15 years," the officer said. 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

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BANGKOK — Thai junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has asserted his authority to pass a mass surveillance bill that would allow officials to inspect any form of communication without a requesting a court warrant.

When a reporter from Isra News asked the junta chairman to comment on the draft of the controversial Cyber Security Act, Gen. Prayuth responded that Thai people should study the "rules" instead of focusing only on the "restriction of their rights."

"Today, have I ever restricted anyone's rights? Have I ever done that?" asked Gen. Prayuth, who imposed martial law after leading a military coup on 22 May 2014, and has banned any political protests or public criticism of his regime. 

The reporter pressed Gen. Prayuth to justify the sweeping nature of the bill, prompting Gen. Prayuth to lose his temper and shout, "I don't have to answer why! I will pass it. You have a problem with that? Otherwise, why the hell am I the Prime Minister? Why am I the Prime Minister?"

Gen. Prayuth then walked away from the reporters and said angrily, "I'm in a very bad mood."

If passed, the Cyber Security Act, a draft of which is available on the Thai Cabinet’s website, would grant officials authority to "access any channel of information and communication, including mails, telegrams, telephones, fax, computer, or any other type of electronic and telecommunication equipment" in order to safeguard the "cyber security" of the state. 

The bill states that officials can exercise those powers per orders from a Committee for Defense of National Cyber Security, which will be formed by the Cabinet, effectively discarding any legal need for authorities to apply for a court warrant first. 

The legislation would allow Thai authorities to access any email, Facebook account, and computers of any individual suspected of engaging in actions that may affect "cyber security."

The draft of the bill also authorizes the Committee to "summon any state agency or individual to give testimony or submit any document beneficial to the operation of this Act," and to "ask" any state or private agency to "perform any task" to protect the national cyber security as decided by the Committee.

According to Thai Netizen, an NGO that campaigns for internet freedom in Thailand, the draft has been approved by the Cabinet, and is now awaiting a vote by the National Legislative Assembly, a body appointed by the junta last year.

Thailand already has two draconian pieces of legislation used by authorities to restrict freedom of expression on the internet: the lese majeste law, which criminalizes any criticism of the monarchy, and the Computer Crime Act.

The Computer Crime Act, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a 100,000 baht fine, outlaws any use of a computer system that affects "national security," "spreads false information," or damages the "good morality of the people."  

Critics say the law's sweeping scope is regularly abused to restrict freedom of speech. In December 2013, the Royal Thai Navy sued an online news site in Phuket province with the Computer Crime Act for reprinting a Reuters article that accused some members of the navy force of collaborating with human traffickers in Thailand's southern coast

"Each Ministry will submit its opinion in different issues, including human rights," Visanu was quoted as saying. 

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