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January 17, 2006
Thailand: More Arguments Over 131 Muslim Refugees
On August 30 while conflict was raging in the southern provinces of Thailand, which have an 80% Muslim population, 131 Muslims fled across the border into neighbouring Malaysia's Kelantan province.
The issue caused diplomatic conflict, with the Malaysians offering asylum and Thailand denying the "refugee" status of the Muslims. On October 5, the Malaysian foreign minister, Syed Hamid Albar said that before the refugee Muslims were returned, "we need be satisfied that all matters related to the law, basic human rights, due process and the rule of law are complied with."
The issue caused the Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, to erupt with rage when Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the Organisation of Islamic Conference brought up the issue of the 131 Muslims, as an illustration of how the Muslims in the south were treated.
Strained diplomatic negotiations continued between the two nations, until an announcement on December 1 that an agreement had finally been reached. Malaysia's New Straits Times said that, if the Thai government guaranteed their safety, the 131 individuals would be returned. The refugees apparently did not wish to go back. Somel appear to have dual-nationality. The refugees were being held in a detention camp in Terrengganu state, south of Kelantan. One individual had apparently been deported to Thailand in November.
The BBC today reported that Malaysia had announced that they had sent the 130 refugees home. Then they revised their page, stating that the Malaysian government has retracted its statement about their return.
Malaysian Attorney-General Gani Patail stated: "I sincerely apologise for the miscommunication."
Reuters reports that Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai has said: "the 131 people are still in Malaysia and Malaysia is taking care of them. I checked with the Foreign Ministry, our embassy in Malaysia and police officials. Nobody said there was a release of 131 Muslim Thais from Malaysia. The Malaysian government has not told us anything."
Earlier Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Malaysia's law minister, had said "All have been sent back. Both sides are very happy."
We will update this report on a confusing situation, which is bound to become clearer soon.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 17, 2006 8:19 AM
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