THAILAND: Thai police arrest 74 Myanmar asylum seekers believed to be Muslim Rohingyas

Record ID: 861790

  • Title: THAILAND: Thai police arrest 74 Myanmar asylum seekers believed to be Muslim Rohingyas
  • Date: 2nd January 2013
  • Summary: PHUKET, THAILAND (JANUARY 1, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) BOAT CARRYING MYANMAR ASYLUM SEEKERS FLOATING ON SEA VARIOUS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS IN BOAT THAI OFFICIAL SPEAKING TO ASYLUM SEEKERS THAI BOAT/ASYLUM SEEKER STANDING ON BOAT WOMAN HOLDING BAGS OF FOOD ASYLUM SEEKERS IN BOAT CHILD HOLDING BAG OF FOOD VARIOUS OF FOOD BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ASYLUM SEEKERS ASYLUM SEEKERS SITTING IN BOAT VARIOUS OF CHILDREN SITTING WOMEN AND GIRL SITTING MEN AND BOYS SITTING BOY LOOKING ON ASYLUM SEEKERS SITTING IN BOAT
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA803BYSFNUOE5E7JTP9QNUSB1U
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Police in Thailand arrested 74 Myanmar asylum seekers found in waters off Phuket on Tuesday (January 1).
    Local media said they were Rohingya Muslims escaping the violence in Rakhine state, adding that there were 60 men and boys, and 14 women and girls on board.
    Thai officials have said they were Myanmar migrant workers.
    Thai media, quoting one of the asylum seekers, said they set off on their journey on December 19 from Rakhine State with Malaysia as their destination.
    The Bangkok Post said the captain of their boat lost direction on the way to Malaysia.
    Thai officials said the 74 will be sent back to Myanmar as soon as possible.
    The outbreaks of violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingyas have killed dozens and displaced thousands since June 2012.
    Rights groups also have accused Myanmar security forces of killing, raping and arresting Rohingyas after the riots.
    Myanmar said it has exercised "maximum restraint" to quell the violence.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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