VIDEO: Thai soldiers destroy footbridge used by Burmese refugees fleeing unrest

In a video posted online on Tuesday, Thai troopers could be seen dismantling a footbridge in Tak province on the border of Myanmar. The bridge was utilized by Burmese refugees fleeing unrest in Karen state to cross over into Thailand in recent months. Human rights organisations are urging the Thai authorities to research their forces’ remedy of refugees. The Thai military say they destroyed the bridge to stop crime.
A Thai soldier asks the nameless cameraman, “What are you filming? Do you need to die?” as Price break destroy the footbridge over the Wa Le River, a tributary of the Moei River on the Thai – Myanmar border.
The bridge related Thailand to Karen State in Myanmar, the place the Burmese junta have allegedly carried out airstrikes and killed civilians in current months in unrest which started on February 1 final year when the junta took energy of Myanmar by military coup, ousting the democratically-elected government at the moment.
Bangkok-based human rights group Fortify Rights – who posted the video – made the following statements…
“The principle of “non-refoulement” prohibits denying entry to those fleeing persecution.”
“Thai authorities should investigate their forces’ treatment of refugees.”
Fortify Rights confirmed the video was taken two months ago on the Myanmar facet of the border. In the background, a crying baby and people talking Karen language may be heard.
“Sources acquainted with the bridge and the realm told Fortify Rights that Myanmar refugees, especially children and older folks, used the bridge to flee violence and persecution and that casual humanitarian staff used it to move lifesaving aid from Thailand to internally displaced individuals to internally displaced individuals (IDPs) in Myanmar.”
The 3rd Army Area of the Thai military addressed the video in a press release on Wednesday…
“The video clip depicting Thai troopers breaking off a cross-border bamboo bridge was taken earlier than the fighting inside Myanmar flared up, and the bridge was illegal… The bridge has nothing to do with the migration of displaced persons… It was performed following an order by the Tak border authorities to prevent unlawful groups from doing their legal activities… At that time, there was no preventing between Myanmar soldiers and ethnic minority drive, and there have been no displaced individuals.”
The Thai army’s assertion is nonsensical on situation that displaced persons from Karen state have frequently fled unrest and crossed over the border into Thailand since February final 12 months when the military junta took energy over Myanmar. Furthermore, completely different footage taken in January this yr (before Thai soldiers allegedly destroyed the bridge) reveals a total of forty five individuals – together with girls and children – lining as much as cross the river into Thailand to flee violence in Karen state, in accordance with Fortify Rights.
Thai authorities have been accused of forcing Burmese refugees to return to Myanmar after an alleged order from Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to prevent “illegal immigration.” Historically, refugees from Myanmar have struggled to be seen as such within the eyes of Thai authorities, who classify them as “economic migrants” quite than political refugees. Without the correct documentation, no legal route into Thailand is out there for Burmese refugees, who’re pressured to enter the kingdom illegally out of worry of persecution from Myanmar’s army junta.
In December 2019, the Thai authorities enacted a regulation to “identify individuals in want of safety and to grant them authorized status and entry the required public companies.” However, the regulation has not been implemented in actuality in many instances, according to reviews of interviews with refugees. Without authorized status in Thailand, refugees face felony penalties beneath Thailand’s 1979 Immigration Act which prohibits unauthorised entry or keep in Thailand. Refugees are subject to arrest, detention, forced return or refoulement as a result.
Executive director of Fortify Rights suggested that Thailand should create a nationwide scheme to issue ID cards to refugees that present them with genuine protection. Last month, the Associated Press reported that refugees were being bought unlawful “police cards” for 350 baht every underneath the premise that they would be protected.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners stated that the military junta in Myanmar has killed a minimum of 1,821 civilians – together with many pro-democracy activists – for the explanation that coup occurred final 12 months.
Fortify Rights mentioned that since February this 12 months, they’ve interviewed 15 refugees from Myanmar on the Thai-Myanmar border, three U.N. officials and humanitarian help staff. The interviewees claimed that Thai authorities had arrested, detained and extorted money from Burmese refugees.

SOURCE: Benar News