"Forty ethnic minority Rohingya Muslims were forced back to Burma yesterday amid concerns over their safety once they crossed the border. Immigration, administrative and military officers picked them up at An Sor mosque in Mae Sot district and escorted them back through the Singkhon border pass in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Altogether about 200 Rohingya minority people were intercepted by Thai authorities while working illegally on Thai fishing boats in Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket and Satun last year. They were charged with illegal entry and working without permits. In total, 110 of them have been sent back to Burma.
The remaining Rohingya who have not been sent back and are now staying in various mosques in the district feared Burmese soldiers might detain or torture their compatriots upon their return. The district's Muslim community recently offered the immigrants shelter in local mosques after they were left stranded waiting to be deported.
The deportation was initiated by Supreme commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit who was concerned that the large numbers of illegal immigrants might undermine national security. The Burmese junta does not recognise Rohingya Muslims as citizens, according to a source.
Rohingya Muslims in their thousands have fled Burma and sailed through the Andaman Sea with the hope of settling elsewhere. Their preferred destinations are India, Malaysia and the Philippines, the source said."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=120497
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Burmese muslims refugees sent back to Burma
Started by Garcia, Jul 28 2007 11:42 AM
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