The Muslim Rohingya Immigrants In Thailand

The aim of this study is to examine Muslim Rohingya immigrants in Thailand; how the issue has evolved, the influences this issue has on Thailand and the response and solution from national, regional and international organizations.Muslim Rohingya from Rakhine Myanmar suffers from discrimination and violation in their mother land Rakhine State, Myanmar. They do not have any rights to live a normal life in the land they have settled in. Following the1982citizenship law of Myanmar, the Muslim Rohingya they are not Burmese citizens and are excluded from the135nationalities ethic groups of Myanmar, which is the basis of Royingya discrimination. Moreover, in recent years, the religion war in Rakhine State between Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya has created a tumultuous environment forcing a huge number of Muslim Rohingya to seek a better life in other countries with the hope of improving their standard of living. When Muslim Rohingya have had enough of the discrimination and negative experiences in their homeland they decide to migrate elsewhere. Thailand is the country in which most Muslim Rohingya migrates to. Additionally they use Thailand as a transit country to access a third country.When huge influxes of Rohingya displaced people migrate to Thailand, they are not considered economic or political refugee and they are typically referred to as illegal immigrants. Thailand is a country typically has a high demand for low cost labourers, so the government compromises so that Rohingya can apply for a work permit.Some Muslim Rohingyas who migrate and settle in Thailand have their small own businesses, while some even marry with Thais. However, they still have no citizenship; as stateless people, the Rohingya must ask for the right to citizenship from governments. Some who hold UNHCR cards to grant them refugee status may still be arrested by police, which proves that they do not know how to properly use the UNHCR cards. Muslim Rohingya whom settle in Thailand for a long time they quite satisfied with quality of life in Thailand because it more peaceful than Myanmar.The number of Muslim Rohingya migrants in Thailand is increasing every year. More importantly, the recent influx of migrants includes woman and children. Absolutely, when vast numbers of Muslim Rohingya migrate to Thailand and use Thailand as a transit country to a third country, it is there are also serious implications for Thailand. The issue of human trafficking affects Thailand’s international image. Because of this Thailand might be downgraded on a list created by the US of the world’s worst enforcers of human trafficking.Muslim Rohingya migrants in Thailand are a sensitive issue and affect Thailand in issues such as international relations; security, health care and the economy.At first Thailand treated Rohingya immigrants in a humanitarian way and placed them in immigration deportation center at least for six months which is in accordance with Thai government policy on Rohingya. While they wait for the next step, whether deportation or transfer to a third country, the Thai government also cooperates with UNHCR and the Myanmar government. However, still more attention must be paid to this issue.ASEAN is beginning to pay more attention to this issue. Problems pertaining to the issue of Muslim Royingya should be addressed as soon as possible because if not, the likely hood that this situation escalates is great. Even so, ASEAN has chosen to find a way to respond to this problem that does not clearly solve the problem. ASEAN will apply the Bali process to this situation and the ASEAN intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights but still process is slow.The response and solution of international organizations such as United Nations, United Nations high Commissioner and Human Right Watch have also discussed and called for Thailand to pay more attention in finding a proper solution for this issue. There is good cooperation between the Thai government and international organizations in order to help improve the status of Rohingya migrants in Thailand.Regarding the Muslim Rohingya migrants in Thailand, this issue cannot be solved only in Thailand, this problem needs an international solution and must be managed well with cooperation from Myanmar’s government, ASEAN and international organizations.