Angelna Jolie Visits Refugees in Thailand
In a statement released today, Angelina Jolie urged Thailand to treat Muslim Refugees fleeing Burma (Myanmar) with greater fairness and compassion.
Thailand’s treatment of the Rohingyas, an oppressed Muslim minority from mainly Buddhist Myanmar, has been widely condemned as evidence emerges that hundreds were rounded up by the Thai military and towed out to sea.
Angelina was deeply troubled by her visit with Burmese refugees in Northern Thailand.
“I was saddened to meet a 21-year-old woman who was born in a refugee camp, who has never even been out of the camp and is now raising her own child in a camp.”
The camp Angelina visited is home to 18,111 refugees who are not allowed outside the camp for work or schooling.
“With no foreseeable chance that these refugees will soon be able to return to Burma (Myanmar), we must find some way to help them work and become self reliant,” she said. “I hope we can work with the Thai authorities to speed up the government admissions process and that you will not be forced to go back to Burma if danger remains.”
“Visiting Ban Mai Nai Soi and seeing how hospitable Thailand has been to 111,000 mostly Karen and Karenni refugees over the years makes me hope that Thailand will be just as generous to the Rohingya refugees who are now arriving on their shores.”
“I also hope the Rohingya situation stabilizes and their life in Myanmar improves so the people do not feel the desperate need to flee, especially considering how dangerous their journey has become,” she added. “As with all people, they deserve to have their human rights respected.”
Angelina talked with another young woman that was forced to flee her home in November for the safety of the camps. Angelina asked the young woman if she was scared.
“Yes, I was scared,” Pan Sein said. “It was dangerous to flee, but even more dangerous to stay in my village.”
Again and again Angelina brings our attention to perilous situations around the world. I had no idea that Thailand was discriminating against refugees based on their religion. I’ll keep an eye out for opportunities for us to support the cause. I’m sure their will be(or is) some organized letter writing campaign.
Source: UNHCR
Source: Reuters Canada
February 6th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Thanks for the information KD.
It’s always nice to hear that she is helping so many people!It shows how amazing person she is!
That’s why I love her!And Brad,of course!
February 8th, 2009 at 5:05 am
very good weblog
February 8th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Thanks guys
I’m always amazed at Angelina’s tireless work on behalf of refugees. She’s done a great deal to educate me about the refugee crisis throughout the world.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:04 am
The Thai govt is a bunch of thief, liar, dishonor, disrespect, cruel, shameless….
Thousand Khmer refugees were killed by Thai soldiers without the UN cash in 1979-1980.
Even with the UN cash the rest of Khmer refugees were treated very badly by Thai soldiers in the refugee camp. Khmer children were beaten up by Thai soldiers because they played the Thai coins that have the Thai King picture on the coins.
Thai were originated Tai people from Nanchao, China. Thai tonal speaking is Tai tonal speaking from China. Thai people were helped by Khmer people when the Mongol invading their land Nanchao. Khmer people taught Tai people of great Khmer civilization since the day Thai people running away from Nanchao.
Khmer numerals are written on all Thai currency today to prove that Thai people prefer to have Khmer culture better than their own Tai culture because their Tai root and Tai culture were wiped out by the Mongol in China.
When Khmer temple Preah Vihear became a world heritage on July 2008, Thai govt sent Thai soldiers to rob Khmer land and other Khmer temples along the border and claimed belonging to Thailand without shame.
Thai govt can’t take any refugee living in Thailand, because Thai govt thinks of its past when Thai were Tai refugees rebelling against Khmer people for freedom at Sukhotei. Thai people can’t claim their land Nanchao back from China, so Thai people asked the Chinese Ming Emperor to help Thai attacking Khmer people at Angkor and that’s a reason Thai govt never allowed the refugees living in Thailand, except living in Thai prison or pay in cash to Thai govt. to have freedom in Thailand.
Thai govt had to turn the Rohingya boat people away with guns to get the UN attention, so the UN can bring cash to pay Thailand just like when Thai soldiers killed thousand Khmer refugees at the border in 1979-1980 to get the UN attention. All Thailand need is cash, without cash no one can be survived with Thai soldiers in Thailand.
Thai govt should thank to Angelina, because of the Angelina Khmer tattoo made in Thailand that makes Thailand became famous for a tattoo place today.