Human Rights Crisis in Bangkok- Thailand

Transcription

1 Human Rights Crisis in Bangkok- Thailand By: Farrukh Saif Foundation Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire April,

2 Table of Contents: 1. Persecution in Pakistan 3 2. Terrorism in Pakistan Mass Exodus of Religious Minorities from Pakistan Challenges faced by Asylum Seekers in second country Crackdown against the Asylum seekers & Refugees in Thailand Our Efforts The Role of UNHCR Contact 13 2

3 1-Persecution in Pakistan: Pakistan is one of the majority Muslim Populated countries where 95 % are Muslims and remaining 5% are Christians, Hindus and Other Religious minorities. The Religious Persecution became prevalent when Military Ruler Zia- Ul- Haq made the 8th Amendment in the Pakistani constitution which opened the doors of religious terrorism in Pakistan. In 2002, Christian persecution in Pakistan became rampant when dozens were arrested and few were sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws. That year marked a dark year in the history of Pakistan when churches were attacked by the hands of Muslim militant groups killing over 50 innocent Christians. Similarly, many incidents took place in different parts of Pakistan which ignited great fear in the Christian community was undoubtedly another very bad year for the persecuted Christians of Pakistan. Muslim radicals attacked Bhamaniwala, Korian and Gojra in which they looted and vandalized hundreds of Christian houses. The Pakistani government also set up a judicial commission to inquire about the Gojra attacks in which dozens of Christian homes were set alight and seven Christians were murdered. The judicial report identified responsible elements and also suggested amendments in the blasphemy laws but unfortunately still nothing has been done in this regard. 3

4 Similarly, year 2012 also became one of the worst years of Christian Persecution against the Religious Minorities in Pakistan when hundreds of Christians and Hindu girls were abducted and raped and then forcibly converted to Islam. This high level of Persecution forced Hindus and Christians to flee from Pakistan. Large numbers of Hindu Families escaped from Pakistan to protect their wives and daughters. Before these Hindus were allowed to cross the Indo- Pak border, they shared their woes with the Pakistani media. They said that their shops were looted, their houses were raided by unknown men and their women were forcibly converted to Islam in the province of Sindh. The same Hindus held a protest after which the Pakistani government allowed them to cross over into India the next day. This embarrassing news made the Sindh Chief Minister and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari take notice. A presidential inquiry committee was set up to end the dilemma of Hindus. Unfortunately, to this day, no attention has been paid to the judicial commission s recommendations and the blasphemy laws remain as a hanging Sword upon Christians. 2-Terrorism in Pakistan: Terrorism in Pakistan has become a highly vicious reality in recent years. The annual death toll from terrorist attacks has risen up to approximately 60,000 in last 13th years. According to the government of Pakistan, the direct and indirect economic costs of terrorism from was $68 billion. Former Presidents Asif Ali Zardari, and Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, had to admit that terrorist outfits were deliberately created and looked after by previous governments as a policy to achieve some short- term strategic objectives. Muhammad Zia- ul- Haq s controversial ISLAMIZATION policies of 1980s, under which conflicts were started against Russian involvement in Afghanistan. Zia s tenure as president included when Pakistan s involvement in the Afghan- Soviet War was well under way, which led to a greater invasion of ideologically driven Mujahideen into the Tribal areas ( FATA ) of Pakistan; it amplified the Kalashnikov Culture and drugs from Golden Crescent. 4

5 Zia, who was an extremist Muslim while he was in power, tried to impose Sharia in Pakistan. He was even the person who introduced the Strict Blasphemy Law in Pakistan. In 80s he welcomed Mujahideen from Arab, Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and other part of the world to fight against the USSR. He puts Pakistan into fire by establishing thousands of madrassa s to train these Mujahideen. This was the time When Osama Bin laden along with thousands of Arab terrorists entered in Pakistan and Pakistan became the nursery of Muslim extremists. Zia made every possible effort to make Pakistan pure Sharia country. Even after the Afghan- soviet war these Mujahideen were never disarmed and later on these groups were activated as Lashkar- e- Taiba, Harkut- ul- Mujahideen, Sipa- e- Sahaba and some of them joined Al- Qaeeda led by Bin Laden. Later on, when Muhammad Nawaz Sharif took charge as an elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, he enforced Shariat Bill in May 1991 and promoted the Anti- Christian Elements in the society. The Amendment made by Zia- ul- Haq and empowerment provided by the Sharif s Government created new war between the Religious minorities in Pakistan. 5

6 This whole system de- stabilized the peace and harmony, putting Christians and other Religious minorities into a hellish situation. Minorities who were already in a grave situation after these implications were put into fire. After 9/11, Christians and other minorities went through a hard time. Muslim extremists backed by the Taliban ideology, made their lives miserable. Hundreds of attacks have been faced by Christians, Hindu s, Ahamdi s and Shia s in last decade. Over the last few years, it has been observed that several cases of blasphemy have been registered against the minorities in Pakistan. There will be no end to the persecution of these innocent people. Those who have already been falsely accused of blasphemy and who are sitting in jails, will be given death sentences without any further trials. With the growth of extremism in Pakistan, the minorities of Pakistan and particularly the Christians have become constant target at the hands of misconceived and uneducated extremist masses who take it their religious duty to inflict the weaker religious communities of Pakistan. Pakistani Government is completely failed to protect its Minorities which forced them to leave the country for the safety and security of their lives. 3-Mass Exodus of Religious Minorities from Pakistan: The exodus of Christians started in the year 2009 when Christian Colonies villages and neighborhoods in Punjab were attacked by the Muslim Extremists. Many houses were torched wherein several persons were burnt alive. Hundreds of Christians from Gojra and Korian village left Pakistan and took refuge in Sri- Lanka, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia for the protection of their lives. In March 2013, Muslim fanatics attacked Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, Lahore and burnt down the entire Christian colony. This painful incident further accelerated the exodus of Christians from Pakistan. According to our information, thousands of Christian families left Pakistan and even thousands of Pakistani Christians are looking forward to flee from Pakistan to other countries where they could enjoy equal rights and freedom. Government of Pakistan has failed to provide security, protection and justice to the vulnerable Christians and other religious minorities. This failure of Pakistani government has forced people to flee from Pakistan. Most of these Pakistani Christians and other Religious minorities reached Thailand, Sri- Lanka, Malaysia and Hong Kong expecting that UNHCR will consider their cases on Humanitarian grounds and they will be able to move to some other countries where they could enjoy equal rights and safety of life and property. 6

7 4- Challenges faced by Asylum Seekers in second country Thailand never signed the 1951 UN Refugee Convention that protects refugees rights; neither Sri- Lanka, nor Malaysia where thousands of Pakistani Asylum seekers seek refuge. However people feel as UNHCR is having its headquarter in Bangkok, so it would be a good option for them and moreover, it s easy to get the visa of Thailand. The majority of the people fleeing from their country consider Bangkok is the right place for them to start their lives afresh. It s easy to obtain Thai tourist visas which allow them to stay in the Kingdom for 60 days. Even many of them were shocked to discover that after 60 days they will be considered as illegal migrants in the Kingdom. The Certificate issued by the UNHCR has No legal values. Even this has been observed during these raids that police and immigration authorities threw these documents on the ground. According to our research, around 12,000 religious minorities have fled from Pakistan since 2009, which accelerated in 2013 and most of them had taken refuge in these countries. There are around 7000 Pakistani Asylum seekers in Bangkok Thailand. Security issue: The most crucial situation faced by asylum seekers and refugees is the non- acceptance of asylum/refugee certificates from immigration and police as a valid reason to stay in Thailand. UNHCR Bangkok is not capable to help asylum seekers when caught on road or in homes by Thai authorities. The certificate has no legal value to provide security. Asylum seekers are in continuous trauma due to this situation. Children are mostly affected as they fear to be caught by authorities and separated from their parents. Living condition: Families consist of 5 to 6 members are living in single room in condos. The room size is small to fit the whole family. Small gallery is used as kitchen and place to dry washed clothes. Due to often crackdown the families are almost closed inside these small rooms. This is a major cause of psychological pressure amongst the pregnant females and small children. Medical Issues: Un- hygienic environment results in often fever, cough diarrhea and skin infections. Children are usually sick due to the sudden change in climate and asylum seekers are unable to get medical treatment due to financial constraint. Malnutrition is another reason of sick children. 7

8 Education: Basic right of every child is to have an environment where he/she can grow and have proper education. Language difference and practically no arrangement on ground to provide education for kids is another big reason of mental stress among the kids and youth. Long period for RSD from UNHCR is destroying the next generation s future; they are in strange situation where parents are already unsure what to do and where to go? It directly effects on overall child s health in every aspect 5-Crackdown against the Asylum seekers and Refugees in Thailand Since 2nd March 2015, the Thai government has started an operation against illegal immigrants, the reason behind this sudden crackdown is yet unknown. Most of the people were asylum seekers and refugees who were arrested in their homes - pregnant women and toddlers were arrested like criminals. Before the crackdown, the immigration officials, with the help of the military, cordoned off the whole area. All the families including children and women were caught in fear and they started calling the UNHCR and other associated organizations as well as other friends to pray for them and help them. It was chaos as everyone was crying and trapped; the military smashed the doors and arrested the children, women and old people. Families requested and showed their Asylum certificates but nothing helped them, immigration officers threw the certificates on the floor and very disrespectfully arrested the women and children. They did all this irrespective of the medical condition of the women and old people, even pregnant females were taken in custody. Just in the single day of 13th March 2015, more than 121 persons, mostly children, were held in Samrong Police Station. Since that day s crackdown, the number arrested has increased to 176. The team from Farrukh Saif Foundation responded immediately. In the midst of the chaos children were crying for milk and families were sitting for long hours without food and water. The team immediately responded to the situation and arranged food and milk for all these people who had been neglected by the Thai authorities. The Farrukh Saif Foundation liaised with the authorities in an attempt to demonstrate how those arrested were not criminals but people with a valid reason to remain in Thailand. They were properly registered with the UNHCR which the Foundation asked to act as mediator. The response to the Foundation s efforts with the UNHCR, and the immigration and Police authorities in Thailand was one in which no one was willing to take responsibility. 8

9 Nevertheless, the team from the Foundation persevered and assisted the victims of the crackdown, in Court. Following the FSF intervention and subsequent negotiations, 24 children were released. However, parents including breastfeeding mothers are still being arrested and the situation is desperate. Knowing the gravity of the situation, the FSF decided to pay the fines of more than 100 people but UNHCR directed them not to pay the fine as they wanted to see what will happen next. All those whose fine was not paid immediately were sent to criminal jail. All were handcuffed and kept in jail bound with shackles. Criminal jail is supposed to be only for those people who have committed a criminal offence, not for Asylum Seekers! Jail authorities instructed the people to parade naked and they were forced to sleep naked. The penal authorities at the jail humiliated the asylum seekers by searching their private parts in a way that was very difficult to endure. All these people were held in criminal jail for 12 days. Jailed families were separated from their children. FSF cannot disclose what the conditions under which the children were confined at this stage. However, they have clearly suffered great trauma due to the actions of the authorities. This shameful behavior is creating mental stress and psychological pressure in families. The asylum seeker community in Thailand is in fear and cannot survive in this situation. They have no right to work for their welfare and family; there is no help from UNHCR and Thai government! Families who have already suffered persecution for different reasons in their home countries are begging for help in the current situation. Their cases are already with UNHCR but the time to evaluate cases and make a decision is very long. The UNHCR know that Thailand is not signatory to the Refugee Convention. However, it is still giving long period of time for RSD intervie ws. According to the White Book issued by UNHCR, the asylum cases are required to be completed in given time frame as described in White Book but the UNHCR is still not operating according to its own rules. Asylum seekers and refugees cannot survive in the current situation as the Thai government is still hunting for asylum seekers and refugees. The problems of asylum seekers and refugees do not end here, still more are being sent to IDC (Immigration Detention Center). The IDC in Thailand is a hell on earth, there is no medical facility for detainees and outside medical assistance is refused. The IDC procedures even cause family members to be separated from each other. Families are kept in different cells which create more panic amongst the asylum seekers. The food is of poor quality and this is resulting in malnutrition and causing many to succumb to sickness. The health of children and breastfeeding mothers in particular is deteriorating rapidly. 9

10 Female detainees are more stressed as they use the combined toilet. No hygiene is observed. Due to bad treatment at the hands of the officials most of the asylum seekers are sick and in great distress. 300 people are being kept in the space intended for 150. Mental stress is causing great restlessness and people are getting sick and losing faith in the UNHCR. So far, from 2nd March 2015, around 300 people have been arrested by Thai authorities. The Farrukh Saif Foundation has been informed that the Thai government is planning to have a massive crackdown against the asylum seekers and refugees after the Songkron festival. If this situation continues, it will result in humanitarian crisis and serious violation of human rights in Thailand. It will also be a very difficult situation for Thai authorities and UNHCR to handle as there are a large number of people from different nationalities residing in Thailand registered as asylum seekers under UNHCR umbrella. The crowded IDC is major problem as the UNHCR is not taking any steps to cause the release of any asylum seekers even though they are UNHCRs primary responsibility. When FSF personal go into the IDC to provide food detained asylum seekers ask: Why UNHCR is not doing anything? What they are waiting for? We are persecuted and requested UNHCR to save us but instead of this they are leaving us here with no food or medication. Many are heart patients, diabetic and many females are pregnant. These are victims in their home countries and again they are in critical situation as they have no legal status and are unable to pay the high fine levels to get released and they cannot arrange Thai national guarantors. The arrested asylum seekers look towards the silent world and beg it to help them. 6-Our Efforts: The Farrukh Saif Foundation (FSF) started different projects after having necessary survey, and the initial survey report identified serious threats to asylum seeker community. 1. FSF, after knowing the gravity of the situation, decided to start a food project in IDC to assist the arrested Asylum seekers. The biggest problem was food as the authorities provide sticky cucumber soup and boiled rice, which results in malnutrition. 10

11 Medical conditions are extremely poor and medicines are not allowed from outside. FSF is trying to improve the situation by providing food in IDC but much more is required as the food is being provided to more than 200 persons. 2. After the arrest of the hundreds of people, we felt the responsibility to submit the fine of all those who are without visas, so they may not be sent to the Central Jail. FSF provided the fine of more than 100 individuals in the courts. IDC Team of Farrukh Saif Foundation 11

12 3. FSF was able to release dozens of Pakistani asylum seekers from the police stations in Bangkok after negotiating with the police and immigration. 4. Food packages were also provided to those who were hiding in houses. Dozens of people were assisted in relocating and in house rents in new places. 5. During the Easter period, FSF team provided the food to more than 350 families irrespective of their religion in different parts of Bangkok. 6. During this situation FSF also helped a number of families with medical problems. 12

13 What should be the role of UNHCR? 1. The UNHCR should take it as a primary responsibility to talk with Thai government in order to make them understand the difference between illegals and asylum seekers and refugees. 2. The UNHCR should fasten the process the RSD, especially in IDC. 3. The international community should immediately respond to asylum seekers and refugees and should open their doors to accept them as this will help UNHCR to fasten the process. At the moment, USA, Canada and the Netherlands are the only countries which are accepting the refugee cases, but the need is big as compared to the current situation. Western countries should also play their role to help the asylum seekers community in Thailand by accepting them and relieve them from miserable condition which they are forced to bear in Thailand. 4. The Royal Thailand government should also understand the situation of asylum seekers who are in Thailand under the Honorable King. They would never be a threat to the government or any authority in Thailand. They seek refuge and help from the Thai authorities. The Thai Kingdom should soften their hearts and let these asylum seekers complete their given time frame from UNHCR to travel to 3rd countries. 7- Contact: info@farrukhsaif.com Web: 13