Southeast Asian MPs call for international community to embrace localized approaches at Thai-Myanmar border to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable

Southeast Asian MPs call for international community to embrace localized approaches at Thai-Myanmar border to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable

BANGKOK – ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) calls on Thailand, ASEAN, and the wider international community to turn their attention to the plight of internally-displaced people (IDPs) and refugees at the Thai-Myanmar border and to support localized pathways, including cross-border aid. 

During the four-day fact-finding mission from 13-16 November, parliamentarians from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand visited the border towns of Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang in Northern Thailand to speak with local organizations, displaced communities and first responders to hear about their situation and challenges  as well as to consult with community-based organizations to better understand what solutions must be immediately advocated for. 

We are deeply concerned about the situation faced by IDPs and refugees from Myanmar at the Thai Border. They do not have sufficient access to healthcare, food, or even shelter. We can and must do more for them,” APHR Chair and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Barends said today,

The mission delegation found that border clinics urgently need  medicine and warm clothing for patients.  Meanwhile, IDP and refugee children have severely limited  access to education: schools have been targeted for airstrikes by the military junta, there is a lack of books and other learning materials, and those who wish to continue with higher education find it difficult to apply to universities abroad due to a lack of documentation.

The growing IDP population near the Thai border – which is set to reach 300,000 due to continued junta airstrikes and military operations – relies heavily on local community-based organizations for support. But these organizations are continually blocked from accessing humanitarian aid by the illegal Myanmar junta,” APHR member and Malaysian member of parliament Kelvin Yii said. “APHR stands in solidarity with the community-based organizations and echoes their calls for increased cross-border aid.”

The challenges faced by refugees on the Thai side of the border are made worse by the precarity of their legal status – human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Thai border authorities for sending those seeking refuge back across the border to Myanmar, where they are at risk of indiscriminate airstrikes, arbitrary arrest, torture, and worse.

We urge the Thai government to enact policies that ensure refugees are granted safe passage and humanitarian assistance, starting by instructing Thai border authorities to immediately halt the forced return of Myanmar refugees,” said Yii.

APHR also highlights that the conditions of IDPs and refugees can only be genuinely  resolved with a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive Myanmar. 

We therefore reiterate our calls to ASEAN and the international community to take firm action against the illegal Myanmar junta, including by suspending any military or diplomatic cooperation, and to recognize the National Unity Government as the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people,” said Barends. “As long as the junta remains in power, the suffering of IDPs and refugees will only increase, leading to an unsafe Thai border as well as wider regional instability.”

Open Letter to the Government of Thailand on Refugees Fleeing Myanmar

Open Letter to the Government of Thailand on Refugees Fleeing Myanmar

2 November 2023

Open Letter to the Government of Thailand on Refugees Fleeing Myanmar

Re: New Thai government has the opportunity for a fresh start on Myanmar Refugees

To: Royal Thai Government 

H.E. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister 

H.E. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior

Attention to:

Hon. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand

Your Excellencies,

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are writing to call upon the Pheu Thai government to ensure safe passage and access to humanitarian provisions for refugees fleeing violence and persecution in neighboring Myanmar. This would signal to the world that the new Thai government truly committed to respecting and upholding human rights.

As you know, the Myanmar military junta is committing ongoing war crimes and human rights violations against the civilian population, killing thousands and internally displacing 2 million people , according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. However, these numbers are likely much higher, based on data collected by local humanitarian organizations working on the ground in Myanmar.  This is just the latest wave of civilian displacement resulting from the unprecedented violence and scorched-earth earth terror campaign by the Myanmar military as Thailand is well aware, having housed tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees in refugee camps for the past 40 years. We commend Thailand for its long history of providing shelter and humanitarian aid to refugees from across Southeast Asia, particularly from Myanmar.

The new Thai government has an opportunity to establish itself as a governing body that upholds the human rights of all people, including the many seeking safety, shelter, and protection in Myanmar. There is the possibility for meaningful engagement with pro-democracy forces and those truly committed to a free and fair future in the country. This is possible with the support of the new Thai government in choosing to stand on the right side of history.

We urge you to enact policies that ensure refugees are granted safe passage and humanitarian assistance, starting by instructing Thai border authorities to immediately halt the forced return of Myanmar refugees, in line with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Degrading Treatment or Punishment, of which Thailand is a state party, as well as Thailand’s own Act on the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance. Refugees living in the camps in Thailand must be given access to educational and economic opportunities that will allow them to thrive outside the camps in various capacities.

If your government enacts these policies, you will not only be acting with principled morality, and gaining the infinite gratitude of the Myanmar people, but you will also be raising the international community’s esteem and respect for Thailand as a democratic, humane, rights-respecting nation.

Yours sincerely,

Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar

ALTSEAN-Burma

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights 

Asylum Access Thailand 

Australian Karen Organisation Inc

Burma Action Ireland

Burma Concern

Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP)

CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland

CRPH Funding Ireland

CRPH/NUG Support Group, Australia, National representative for NSW Rep

CRPH/NUG Support Group, Western Australia 

CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia

Human Rights Foundation of Monland 

Initiatives for International Dialogue

International Detention Coalition (IDC)

Karenni National Women’s Organization

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) 

Manushya Foundation

Milk Tea Alliance – Friends of Myanmar 

Move Forward Party

Myanmar Campaign Network

Myanmar Geoscience Association, Western Australia 

Myanmar Response Network (MRN)

มูลนิธิสิทธิเพื่อสันติภาพ (Peace Rights Foundation)

The William Gomes Podcast, United Kingdom

U.S. Campaign for Burma 

Click here to read this open letter in Thai.

Incoming Thai government must enact refugee-friendly policies, Southeast Asian MPs say

Incoming Thai government must enact refugee-friendly policies, Southeast Asian MPs say

JAKARTA – The incoming Thai government must heed calls from civil society to reform policies on refugees to be more compassionate and in line with international human rights standards, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said today.

We support calls made by the Karen Peace Support Network and other locally-led civil society groups regarding Thailand’s policies on refugees and asylum seekers,” said APHR Chair and member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Mercy Barends. “The incoming government must respond to the needs of refugees, uphold their human rights, and guarantee their safety.”

According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are over 90,000 Myanmar refugees living in nine recognized refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Refugees, some of whom have been stuck in limbo for years, are strictly confined behind fences and barred from seeking employment in Thailand. According to the Karen Peace Support Network, the current food ration is valued at approximately 300 THB or 10 USD per month.

Meanwhile, human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Thai border authorities for sending those seeking refuge back across the border to Myanmar, where they are at risk of indiscriminate airstrikes, arbitrary arrest, torture, and worse.

In the most recent high-profile case in April this year, Thai immigration authorities detained three members of a Myanmar opposition group that had crossed into Thailand to seek medical treatment and then handed them over to the Myanmar junta-allied Border Guard Forces (BGF).  Witnesses say that BGF troops shot at the men after the handover. According to media reports, at least one of the men was killed, while the fates of the other two remain unclear.

The incoming Thai government must recognize that the junta’s treatment of refugees cannot continue. The new government must grant Myanmar asylum-seekers safe passage through the border and guarantee their access to humanitarian assistance. Refugees living in the camps in Thailand must be given access to educational and economic opportunities that will allow them to thrive outside the camps in various capacities,”  said Barends. 

Adding to the suffering of those who have already been forced from their homes by a murderous junta is unconscionable; any administration that claims to represent change must start by immediately remedying this untenable situation,” said Barends.

APHR launches toolkit, urges fellow legislators in Malaysia to counter hate speech towards migrants

APHR launches toolkit, urges fellow legislators in Malaysia to counter hate speech towards migrants

KUALA LUMPUR – ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), in partnership with the office of the Speaker of Malaysia’s House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat), has launched the Toolkit for Parliamentarians to Promote Counter Narrative to Hate Speech Towards Migrants and Refugees in Malaysia.

The launch, which was held in the Malaysian parliament, was attended by members of parliament (MPs), the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Malaysia, ambassadors and representatives of foreign embassies in Malaysia, members of civil society, as well as the media.

I urge all MPs present here today to utilize this toolkit as a powerful tool in raising awareness about the issue of hate against migrants and refugees. By doing so, we can collectively work towards creating a more inclusive and human rights-respecting society,” said Malaysian House Speaker Dato’ Johari bin Abdul.

Due to its diversity, strategic location, relatively stronger economy, and workforce needs, Malaysia is one of the largest migrant-receiving countries in Southeast Asia. However, migration remains a sensitive topic in the country, with a vast majority of Malaysians having negative perceptions of migrants and refugees.

Mainstream political leaders, such as MPs, play an important role in the construction of narratives on migration. Political narratives that emphasize the positive role of migrants and refugees in society and economies have proven to be successful in limiting the rise and influence of negative migration narratives. This is why APHR has created this toolkit, which aims to help parliamentarians become agents of social progress by using their voice to spread positive counter-narratives to hate speech towards migrants in Malaysia.

We hope that this toolkit can empower MPs to take action against hate speech towards migrants and refugees,  promote positive narratives and end harmful perceptions, stereotypes, and disinformation about these communities and celebrate their contributions to economic growth, social development, cultural enrichment, so we can build a Malaysia that thrives in diversity,” said APHR member and Malaysian MP Wong Chen.  

The toolkit includes an explanation of what constitutes hate speech and the importance of countering such speech, as well as possible strategies that MPs can use to promote positive narratives about migrants and refugees both in parliament and in their respective constituencies.

The role of parliamentarians in building inclusive and fair societies cannot be overemphasized. As political leaders elected by their constituencies, they have a paramount responsibility and undeniable power to influence public policies and shape the discourse on human rights, tolerance, solidarity, and inclusiveness,” said UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia Karima El Korri.

Click here to download the toolkit in English.

Click here to download the toolkit in Bahasa Malaysia.

Southeast Asian MPs urge the Thai government to stop engaging with the Myanmar junta and help refugees

Southeast Asian MPs urge the Thai government to stop engaging with the Myanmar junta and help refugees

JAKARTA – Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia urge the Thai government to stop engaging with the Myanmar junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, as it continues committing all sorts of atrocities against its own population in order to cement its power after the failed coup d’état in February 2021. They also petition the Thai authorities to provide help to refugees and asylum seekers fleeing persecution and military attacks from the neighboring country.

The call to disengage the junta comes after a meeting between the top leaders of the Myanmar and Thai armed forces in Rakhine State, western Myanmar. The Chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, General Chalermphon Srisawasdi, and Min Aung Hlaing met on 20 January with the aim of “further cementing mutual trust, mutual understanding and friendly ties between the two armed forces,” according to media controlled by the Myanmar junta.

As the high-level meeting was taking place, the Myanmar military was launching indiscriminate airstrikes in a village located in Sagaing region, killing at least seven villagers and injuring over thirty. On several occasions, stray shells have landed in Thai territory when the Myanmar military was conducting aerial attacks in neighboring Karen and Karenni states. 

“By engaging with the junta, the Thai military and government are turning into enablers of the crimes against humanity that it is perpetrating on a daily basis. No geopolitical interests can justify that. The junta has also shown utter disrespect to ASEAN, of which Thailand is also a member, by disregarding the Five Point Consensus it signed three months after the coup. No ASEAN member state should have ‘friendly ties’ with a military that has turned Myanmar into a center of instability which is threatening the whole region,” said Charles Santiago, former Member of Parliament in Malaysia, and Co-Chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).

The Five Point Consensus was signed by the ASEAN member states and the Myanmar junta in April 2021 to put an end to the violence, seek a negotiated solution to the conflict and address the humanitarian crisis. As APHR has repeatedly stated, Min Aung Hlaing has not shown any willingness to comply with its terms from the beginning. The report of the International Parliamentary Inquiry into the global response to the crisis in Myanmar (IPI), organized by APHR, urged ASEAN to abandon the Five Point Consensus in its present form, as it has clearly failed.

“As we demanded in our IPI report, ASEAN should engage the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, as the legitimate authority of the country, and re-negotiate a new consensus with it and aligned ethnic organizations. ASEAN decided early on not to invite representatives of the junta to high-level meetings, and countries like Malaysia and its current Chair, Indonesia, have shown willingness to engage the NUG. By meeting Ming Aung Hlaing, Thailand is undermining those efforts and furthering divisions within the regional group,” said Santiago.

In this vein, Thailand hosted a meeting in December to discuss the crisis in Myanmar, attended by the foreign ministers of the Myanmar junta, Laos and Cambodia, as well as the deputy foreign minister of Vietnam. Significantly, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore did not attend.

Thailand and Myanmar share a border of over 2,400 kilometers, and the attacks by the junta have displaced hundreds of thousands. Yet Thailand refuses to accept refugees fleeing the onslaught of the Myanmar military on the other side of the border, often pushing back those who cross it after a few days or even a few hours, as human rights organizations have often denounced in the last two years. Asylum seekers from the neighboring country do not fare much better in Thailand, where they have no legal protection and live in constant fear of deportation.

“Thailand has a history of welcoming refugees from Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam since the 20th century wars in Indochina. The government should open its borders to the refugees fleeing war in the Myanmar ethnic states along its borders, and provide legal protections to those who seek political asylum, including defectors from the Myanmar military. It should also facilitate cross-border aid by local civil society organizations and international NGOs. Once again, on these issues the main interlocutors the Thai government should engage with in Myanmar are the NUG, aligned ethnic organizations, and the vibrant civil society, not a criminal military completely unable to solve the crisis it has created,” said Santiago.

Click here to read this statement in Thai.