Give Safe Harbor and Aid to Rohingya Boat Refugees

  • by: Susan V
  • recipient: Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, Malaysia PM Najib Razak, Indonesia President Joko Widodo

Thousands of thirsty and starving migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been stranded in rickety boats off the shores of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. But so far these countries have refused safe harbor to these desperate refugees.

Those from Myanmar include the persecuted Rohingya minority, and fleeing from Bangladesh are economic migrants. Some of these boat refugees are believed to have been abandoned by their captains and crews and left to drift at sea.

For the Rohingya, the situation in Myanmer had risen to the unbearable level of ethnic cleansing after an outbreak of communal violence in 2012. Denied citizenship, the group has been forced to live under apartheid-like conditions within internment camps from which the sea is their only escape.

According to CNN’s report on this crisis, Human Rights Watch has made an urgent plea to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia “to end their 'pushbacks’ of these migrant boats and provide aid to their passengers." Tell these governments you join HRW in its plea for aid and mercy for these desperate men, women and children.

    We, the undersigned, find reports of the Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian policies against providing safe harbor to these refugees very disturbing.
According to CNN’s report on this human rights crisis, Myanmar has created an apartheid that has reached the level of ethic cleansing - one few have heard about.     The country, also known as Burma, considers the Rohingya to be “interlopers” from Bangladesh and has refused these people, some of whom have lived in Burma for generations, a right to legal citizenship.The apartheid-like conditions at the Rakhine State where the group has been interned have resulted in over 25,000 escaping by sea already this year, many of whom have perished in the process.These people have been living under severe stress and desperation, with their plight almost completely ignored by the rest of the world. Now that they are seeking asylum and aid, it is unconscionable for any country to deny them that help.


Although the Thai and Indonesian goverments have given aid to some of the refugees and dropped food by air, their policies are unwelcoming, and apparently the captains don't feel safe landing. Maylasia, which may be the preferred destination says, based on CNN's report, that  it is "cracking down on traffiking," but others say this is no excuse to refuse aid to the refugees.


Based on another CNN report, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, has called on Southeast Asian leaders "to uphold 'international law' and 'the obligation of rescue at sea,' adding that "Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are currently refusing to accept the 'boat people"'-- men, women and children who remain on ships, with rapidly dwindling provisions.” 


CNN also quotes Phil Robertson of Asia‘s Human Rights Watch blaming the Burmese government for creating “… this crisis with their continued persecution of the Rohingya," and also condemning Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia for making “…things much worse with cold-hearted policies to push back this new wave of 'boat people' that puts thousands of lives at risk."


We ask the leaders of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia to provide these horribly victimized refugees the safe harbor and aid they need, until the oppression in Myanmar can be resolved.


Thanks for your time.

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