It was most unjust and disappointing when Malaysia arrested and delivered a Thai woman back to Thailand. This women had fled Thailand was seeking political asylum/refugee status. And she was a RECOGNISED ASYLUM SEEKER by the UNHCR.
As such, the fact that Malaysia arrested her and send her back to Thailand is an unacceptable embarrassment - something we certainly from our NEW HOPE government of Malaysia.
ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES - What happens when these people run to Malaysia to seek political asylum and/or refugee status? Sadly, in Malaysia, we still; do not have clear LAWS to deal with such asylum seekers and/or refugees.
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so.
Who is an asylum seeker? When people flee their own country and seek sanctuary in another country, they apply for asylum – the right to be recognized as a refugee and receive legal protection and material assistance. An asylum seeker must demonstrate that his or her fear of persecution in his or her home country is well-founded.
Malaysia has a good history when it comes to dealing with such asylum seekers and potential refugees - the Vietnamese Boat People, those that fled Burma(now Myanmmar) and still fleeing like the Rohingya people... BUT not so good past when it came to the then refugees from Aceh...
Non-refoulement (/rəˈfuːlmɒ̃/) is a fundamental principle of international law that forbids a country receiving asylum seekers from returning them to a country in which they would be in likely danger of persecution based on "race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion".
'Good Neighbors' is no good justification by Malaysia to send back asylum seekers to countries from which they have fled from.
Malaysia sadly still have no LAW that deals with asylum seekers and/or refugees, the time has come that Malaysia has a LAW which will stipulate how we deal with people who run to Malaysia seeking asylum or refugee status. It cannot be arbitrary as before...
In the past, for those who had UNHCR papers, the government will not deport them ...in fact, they will be released so that UNHCR can complete doing the needful until possible resettlement in a third country...so what happen to this Thai women is out of the ordinary..
Is it because Thailand is part of ASEAN - well, that cannot be for we have provided santuary for asylum seekers fleeing from Burma(Myanmar), who is also part of ASEAN..
So, Malaysian government need to give a very good explanation...MPs for Human Rights and Justice must speak up - not just agree(or stay silent) to all that the PM and/or the Cabinet does?
* SUHAKAM(Malaysian Human Rights Commission) would have criticized Malaysia's actions - but alas, we have NO Human Rights Commissioners now( The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is currently without commissioners, as their terms expired on April 25.- Star, 29/4/2019)
* Surely the Malaysian Bar would have spoken up on this by now...or will be doing so very soon?
UNHCR urges governments not to send refugees, asylum seekers back into danger
Nation
Thursday, 16 May 2019 3:34 PM MYT
by rashvinjeet s. bedi
PETALING JAYA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged governments not to send refugees or asylum-seekers back to situations where their lives can be in danger.
Malaysia had recently extradited a woman wanted by authorities in Thailand over her anti-monarchy views following a request for her deportation, which was confirmed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"All over the world, UNHCR urges governments to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and to not send refugees and asylum-seekers back to situations where their lives can be in danger," its spokesman Yante Ismail said in an emailed statement to The Star Online Thursday (May 16).
UNHCR said that due to reasons of confidentiality and data protection, they were unable to comment on individual cases.
According to Human Rights Watch, Praphan Pipithnamporn was an asylum-seeker registered with the UNHCR but was arrested by the police in April on Thailand’s request.
“If there is a request, then we will send back. (We are a) good neighbour,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference on Tuesday (May 14).
Thai authorities accused Praphan of sedition and organised crime over her involvement with the Organisation of Thai Federation, a movement that has been actively calling for a republic on social media.
Thailand has some of the world’s toughest lese-majeste laws.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) had said they were deeply concerned over the arrest and repatriation of Praphan, and condemned the government for behaving like an accomplice of the Thai military junta.
"The repatriation of Praphan Pipithnamporn is clearly a violation of the fundamental principle prohibiting refoulement under customary international law.
"Such action is breaching the commitment of the Pakatan Harapan government in upholding the rule of law," said PSM International Bureau coordinator Choo Chon Kai. - Star, 16/5/2019
Woman extradited to Thailand because we're a good neighbour, says Dr M
Nation
Tuesday, 14 May 2019 2:34 PM MYT
by mazwin nik anis and rahimy rahim
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has extradited a woman wanted by authorities in Thailand over her anti-monarchy views following a request for her deportation, says the Prime Minister.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this when asked why Praphan Pipithnamporn, who had sought asylum with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was sent back to Thailand.
“If there is a request, then we will send back. (We are a) good neighbour,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday (May 14).
According to Human Rights Watch, Praphan is an asylum-seeker registered with the UNHCR but was arrested by the police in April on Thailand’s request.
She was repatriated last week.
Thai authorities accused Praphan of sedition and organised crime over her involvement with the Organisation of Thai Federation, a movement which has been actively calling for a republic on social media.
Thailand has some of the world’s toughest lese-majeste laws. - Star, 14/5/2019
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