The fishermen recovered ten castaways; another 41 were located by the coastguard. They were probably abandoned on their way to Malaysia; they risked being kidnapped and exploited. The exodus from the coast of Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh appears to have intensified in recent months.
Bangkok () – 51 Rohingya castaways have been located off the southern coast of Thailand in recent hours. Around ten were rescued by fishermen, after being sighted in the sea off the island of Koh Bulone. Another 41 were later found by coastguards on the island of Koh Gluay and brought to the mainland.
It is unclear whether the two groups were on the same boat, which reportedly sank in storms. It is also not known whether they come from the coast of the Rakhine state (Arakan, in Myanmar) or from Bangladesh. But like the latest mass landing of some 60 Rohingya on June 4, it shows that Thailand remains a transit zone – and sometimes a stopover – on the route of fleeing Rohingya. Both of those fleeing their country of origin after the wave of persecution in August 2017 and of those embarking on a long and dangerous journey by sea in view of the desperate situation in the refugee camps in Bangladesh.
For many of them, the destination is Malaysia. However, the traffic of people that usually manages their escape and the conditions of the sea often force them to disembark on the Thai coast. There they risk being kidnapped, held for ransom and exploited if they do not pay for their release.
The collusion of the Thai authorities with the boatmen was demonstrated in the past, but lately they are trying to restore an image of credibility and legality to the migratory situation. Thai authorities believe the identified castaways are just part of the passengers on a ship that is now hiding with the rest of the human cargo and is said to be found among the islands that dot the Thai coast of the Andaman Sea.
The incident marks how migration has increased following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021. And it also shows how unsatisfactory Bangladesh’s attempts to reach a solution for almost a million refugees remain, through agreements with the Burmese military regime. , with the mediation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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