The Thai's in the 80's raped and murdered thousands of Viet boat people. I am sad but not surprised that they are up to the same tasks again with the Rohingya boat people.

Thailand is a Buddhist country but the Thai people behave like savages with not much compassion to less fortunate people.

I call for a boycott of Thai products and a boycott of travel to Thailand.

Thailand has a history of malicious human rights violation and should be excluded from the world community.

After the Vietnam war, tens of thousands of Vietnamese boat people were murdered, raped, and ravaged by Thai pirates and the military did nothing. Noone ever got persecuted and justice never served.

This is a forgotten saga of the Vietnam war, but it will never be forgotton by those who lived through it.

Just another black eye for the Thai's people but they really do not care as they live only for today. Lying to save face is the utmost importance and nothing else matters to them. I know as I am a Thai and it breaks my heart to see my people acting this way. I was raised to always try to tell the truth and act responsiable and be honest. The 2 things (Lying to save face & Corruption) that will hold back Thailand from a bright future is so imbedded in our way of life that it will take 100 years before we can even begin to raise our head with pride. Now we just live with shame after shame after shame and pretend it's not there.

This is horrible. I'm not buying anything made in Thailand until this is resolved, join me.

This is nothing new, it was not so long ago that Thai pirates were raping and killing Vietnamese refugees with impunity. We can only hope that something can be done this time to stop these barbaric acts from sections of the Thai community to damage the reputation of a gentle people.

I was planning a trip to Thailand next year but I won't go now. I can't believe they are doing this to people. I doubt the 'new guy' will do anything. These people have no regard for human life so why would I spend my tourist dollars there?

During the previous boat people area where hundred of thousands of refugees were fleeing Communism, the Thai government has turned a blind eye to the Thai fishermen, thus encouraging and condoning them to attack, rape and kill ten of thousands of Vietnamese refugees. The Thai fishermen had also kidnapped ten of thousands of Vietnamese women and sold them into prostitution. The World then turned a blind eye to the Thai government thus encouraging them to repeat their unpuhished deeds. The World now has to quickly investigate, and if it turns out to be true, we need to strongly condemned Thailand for their shameful action.

This is mild compare to the stories of the treatments the Cambodian refugees received from the Thai army in the '80s. I wish someone is looking into the cruelty of the Thai army toward those who are just trying to survive.

Why is the Thai government the villain here? They are simply protecting their nation from the perils of unchecked illegal immigration. How can you fault a government for doing its job? Considering the problem that illiegal immigrants have created in the US, India, and elsewhere, every government is within its rights to protect its citizens from this menace. The Rohingyas knew what they were getting into. They knew that this was a dangerous journey. So why are they and the writer of this story complaining. If you cant take the pain, dont take the risk.

it's not surprising. the thais did the same to the cambodians as they sought refuge in thailand during the genocides. it's a shame that a country of such beauty in its culture and geography could be so merciless and inhumane.

I have no words to express how sad this makes me. I always admired the Thais for their peaceful way of life, and I considered them above all kind and merciful souls.

I have a hard time believing that they could have committed this atrocity, yet the damning evidence that is emerging day after day seems to leave no doubt.

What happened to my beloved Thailand?

What happen to Buddism? Karma? It sounds like Thailand has given up such practices and beliefs. What a sad state of affairs for those refugees.

This is not surprising from the Thai Military and ?Government. In June 1979 hundreds and thousands of Cambodians who had recently escaped from the murderous Khmer Rouge were transported against their wishes and dropped off, forced down Dangrek Mountain, down a very steep mountain into fields of unexploded mines with no food or water. Those who refused to decent down the mountain were beaten, sholved down or shot. The Thai Military/Commanders or those in government who were responsible for busing and slaughtering thousands of innocent Cambodians as ruthless as the Khmer Rouge should be prosecuted, it is never too late!!
I am not surprised by these current events from the Thai Military. These unaccounted and unpunished actions will continue recur....just as it did in 1979 for the unfortunate Cambodians, things will only begin to change when the world is watching...just as it did then.

What's a surprise! I am amazed that it takes this long for anyone to find out the cruelty practice by Thai army. Ask the Laotian, Cambodian and Vietnamese people who escape the prosecution from the indochina countries.

I, of course, believe that a proper investigation should be launched before coming to any conclusions. However, should it be determined that the Thai army did in fact hurt any refugees what does that action say about the outpouring of international concern and assistance Thailand received after the terrible tsunami? Thailand cannot expect care from others ever again if when given the opportunity they avoided extending proper assistance to others in return.

I hope that the Thai government will address this situation in an orderly and timely fashion.

Thailand has enough problems including poverty and Muslim uprising. The Rohingya would add to the problems of a country that is not in a position the help them. The Burmese government should be held responsible for this. Perhaps Western countries will take them in and face the music in a couple of years rather than lecture a third world nation.

Unfortunately for Thailand now people around the world have a chance to see the tip of an iceberg that they never wish outside world to know. The only way to redeem Thailand's dignity is to admit it and try to improve all the treatment Thais are doing against the people from poorer neigbouring countries.

The new prime minister has full responsibility for this case.

I think he'll deal with this problem as soon as possible.

The Thais have obviously followed the ghastly policy towards refugees as the Howard government in Australia did.

As a Thai, I am horrified by this story. The international community should not think that the Thais as a people are as cruel and heartless as the military which dragged these boat people out to sea. The Thai military has in the past been responsible for atrocities which resulted in the deaths of many Thais, particularly in response to political protest. Yet no investigation was ever held and no one ever brought to justice. Now that Thailand has a prime minister who came into office vowing to uphold the rule of law and human rights, he needs to launch a full and independent investigation immediately to restore Thailand reputation and honor. This would also reaffirm his own personal integrity and independence from the military that brought him to power.

It is hard to believe that Thais, who have always been known for their compassion and peaceful nature could do something like this.

However, if this is true, than it deserves to be brought out into the open. Proper investigation should be done, including from a third party, as I don't believe the govt. or army will be direct and honest about all this.

If you understand Thai culture you will know that nothing will be done. It is all about saving face and sweeping things under the carpet, ignoring the obvious. Don't expect Western-style transparency.

thailand is an independent nation. it does not have to accept boat people just because they wash up on its shores. there are millions of muslims in bangledesh and burma trying to get here. Why dont they just go next door to Pakistan or some other islamic paradise instead of coming all the way here. You say they just washed up but, no, they are trying to come here. we already have 400,000 immigrants on our shores and unemployement of our own people. whatever steps are needed we will take. send them to england if the west is so worried. england hates its own culture and welcomes muslims. let them go there and get welfare and watch english submit to muslim culture but we will not. if the west wants to get angry about this then get angry with bangledesh and burma where the problem starts, not with us

One of the biggest misconceptions about Thailand (also known as Land of Smiles) is really how uncaring and self-centered the people of this country are.

The friendly smiles and courteous gestures visitors are greeted with on vacation is nothing but a facade. This is a violent society where inhumane actions are prevalent and the slightest slip of the tongue can get you killed.

Where else in the world would you find a society willing to shut down a major international airport and strand thousands of tourists and think nothing about it?

The Thai army did the same thing to their own people in the south, so it is not surprising that they would do it to immigrants.

lek...it's not about the west...it's abput idiots who haven't a clue. Good luck to you and your country sir.

The Thai people like to promote themselves as kind and beautiful, but they can be cruel and heartless. I know because I speak from experience. I crossed the border from Cambodia in 1979, but was bused to a mountain and forced by the Thai army to walk back through a field of landmines; those heartless Thais knowingly sent thousands to their death. My family lived because my God is merciful.

LEK: coming from a country of devout Buddhism, you have NO understanding of its teachings about human sufferings. Your comment indicates ignorance, bigotry, and heartlessness. This is about humanity and compassion, it has nothing to with the cultures of the East or the West. Thailand does not have to take in desperate people that come to its shores or borders, but why can't you compassionately turn them away with adequate water, food, and other basics? Why choose to send them to nowhere but death?

The global scale of assistance rendered to the Thai people in the catastrphic wake of the tsunami places a burden of reprociticy on them... and if indeed the Rohingya people were thrown back into the sea, then Thailand will have demonstrated an amazing lack of humanity and deep amnesia as regards compassion for fellow human beings.

This situation deserves nothing short of a totally transparent and incisive investigation which should take place in a most timely fashion.

Addressing Lek's comment in particular: Of course Thailand is an independent country, and of course Thailand is home to a great many refugees. Those two facts acknowledged, *if* someone in Thailand is discovered to have towed these people back out into the middle of the ocean in unseaworthy vessels then abandoned them, then Thailand, as a civilized nation with laws surely must and will hold those responsible accountable. I hope you agree with that conclusion.

As for Kurt Eric's linking this situation with the aid Thailand received in the wake of th tsunami, isn't that a false linkage? Were the Kingdom to experience another disaster anything like that, I certainly would hope my country (the U.S.) would respond to the new disaster as it did after the tsunami - massively and unstintingly.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is indeed in a heck of a tough position. For those unfamiliar with the power structure here, the military has considerable influence and power beyond that officially mandated. The brass could, conceivably, decide to resist taking action against anyone clearly guilty, no matter how overwhelming the evidence. They also could do the opposite, though the historic record of that is rather thin. Thin or not, it's not nonexistent.

One last, but critical point, indirectly in support of Nam's contribution to this thread: the allegations remain, for now, exactly that - allegations, not proven events. Give the PM a chance. He seems to be pretty hot stuff with quite a few people, and has been repeatedly compared to President Obama. He's certainly well-educated, urbane, sophisticated, and diplomatic.

If indeed even one would-be refugee has drowned, it's sad, no matter what the reason nor who's responsible.

I am not surprised with this kind of shameful crime committed by the Thai government, Thai army. A refugee myself escaping from the Vietnamese communist persecution during the early 80's, we witnessed brutal crimes committed by Thais on the open sea. Hundreds thousands of defendless Vietnamese boat people suffered robbing, rape, torture, and murder by Thai fishermen, Thai pirates on the open sea and in the Gulf of Thailand. Go ask any Viet refugees who escaped from the South of Vietnamese via the Gulf of Thailand during the 70s and the 80s, they'll tell you those horrible stories. In our Viet community abroad, we have this famous song recalling the terrible experience of a young man whose lover died a brutal death in the hands of these animals on the open sea: Looking toward the ocean, he screams at the top of his lungs " Where is your corpse now my love...? Where are you now my love? Floating toward the Thailand or Indonesia?..."It was just so sad to have to recall these extremely terrible experience after all these years. I am just sick to my stomach to hear this kind of barbaric acts still being committed by Thailand in the 21st century. My heart and prayer go out to those refugees who escaped from the muderous regime of Burma and have to encounter the heartless Thai army.

Man's inhumanity to man has no boundaries. We treat insects or inanimate objects better than each other. I have given life to three living beings and if you create life, you could never even dream of taking it away. Life is truly a miracle and when hearing of news such as this, all those people were given life by someone, and are loved people. Why can't we imagine the pain and horrific anguish we could cause others just like we would feel when something more previous than your life is taken away from us? Why can't we just not kill each other and just live in peace? It is a fruitless question, I know. But I just wish we would stop killing each other.

If your are Thai villagers, you definitely terrify if one morning, when you wake up, there was 400-500 adult men troob to your village. They demand for food and water. Some of them didn't even ask, they just go to fields and took whatever they want. Thai villagers could only stand and watch the refugee took their farm products, kills their chicken. They cannot stop refugee because they have only 60-50 people in village, included elderly, woman and young children. If you were they, will you worry about safety of your family? Will you allow these group of man near by your daughters? Can you guarantee that they won't hurt anyone?

Will any country willing to accept this refugee?
Will you welcome them to be your neighbor?

If you do, please notify your government so it would help solve this problem.

Oh I'm sorry, as I recall, the United States shoots Mexicans crossing borders like they were animals. Talk about double standards. You only comment based on your own ignorance.

The Thai PM will be in Davos for the World Economic Conference. He has denied that the Thai military has left the boat refugee to die. He later denied UNHCR request to visit the remaining 126 refugees in Thailand. Thailand has now reported that these refugees have left thailand. Their whereabout is now unknown and possbly meeting the same fate of being tow out to sea to die.

If there is any Humanitarian Group present at the World Economic Conference I urge you to take this issues with the strongest protest when the Thai PM shows up or else this will continue.

I am seconded of the following fellow's statements:

The Thai’s in the 80’s raped and murdered thousands of Viet boat people {added: also Khmer people from Cambodia}. I am sad but not surprised that they are up to the same tasks again with the Rohingya boat people.

Thailand is a Buddhist country but the Thai people behave like savages with not much compassion to less fortunate people.

I call for a boycott of Thai products and a boycott of travel to Thailand.

The HISTORY is repeatedly happening now. But we should be able to void it ASAP.

I agree with those Thais who believe that Thailand as an independent country does not need to help any one else in need of helps. They have every right to do so.

That said, how do you call yourself a Buddhist?! How do you call yourself a human being?! You are no different than animal!

Sad to hear people are taking advantage of the unfortunate ones. People are risking their lives to escape the brutality regime, but only to find their hope is short live. Where is the moral responsibility of helping the needy?

It is no suprise to me of what the Thai Army's maltreatment of the Rohingya people. In the 1980s, the Thai Army also mistreated Cambodian refugees. Cambodian refugees were taken to remote sites such as the mountain and jungle and abandoned to die. Cambodian refugees were told not to come to Thailand. Those Cambodian refugees made into Thailand's refugee camps, the Thai Army would spit or throw lit cigarette at Khmer folks who were simple sitting down to watch a show performance. A Thai soldier also burned a Cambodian refugee woman with hot cooking oil. When the Thai National Anthem was played, soldiers would aroud kick those who were sitting down. The army even killed Cambodian refugees.

is it the ROYAL Thai Navy and the ROYAL Thai Army commiting these shameful crimes If the PM doesnt have any control over them the UN should go higher and demand a awnswer.

Please be specific in what you say. The Thai Army is not the same as the Thai government, and they are not equivalent to Thailand and Thai people. Please clear your head before speaking and writing. Don't just let your emotions lead your mouth and hands. Every community has both good and bad people. Everyone has both good and bad sides. Look around your society and look inside yourself. So, please be really mindful of what you say so that your comments can be truly constructive.

I don't understand why all of the sudden the foreign press is picking on Thailand. There are human right violations everywhere, it is just which news you pick to highlight, when.

Unlike many countries, Thais have carried the burden of hundred thousands refuees. I myself had work to help them and so experienced the kind-heartedness of many Thais who helped with many forms of donations.

Our neighboring countries have stricter measures and history of abuses toward foreign refugees and workers.

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this must be a joke, right?

the thais, aka brown nazis, have never known as such. what they're known for are fascists, murderous thugs, smiling pretentious pricks.

To hell with it. What they are doing is no different than us taking illegal immigrants from mexico and dropping them right back across the border or watching it with armed guards. What about the cubans who come over on boats and rafts and we turn them right back around. Lets not start judging and pointing fingers until we can get our own act together people.

Maybe the Americans can teach us how the handle the Mexican and Cubans.

"Maybe the Americans can teach us how the handle the Mexican and Cubans."

yeah, learn some humanity from the americans you devilish brown nazis.

After observing comments, both by Thais and non-Thais alike, I'd say that it is not constructive at all by pointing fingers at one another and/or at other countries.

First of all, as a Thai myself, I feel ashamed of what some Thais might have done. Although it is still under investigation, I admitt that there is dark side in each of us. Thais might have mistreated the others, including to fellow Thais. But please don't forget about those whom are working hard to help others also.

After all said and done, please don't generalize Thais as purely good or purely bad. We all have our own darker sides. On the other hand, as an individual, I'd like to offer my own apology to those whomever have been wronged by certain Thais.

great!!! waiting for investigation by the brown nazis what some other brown nazis had done!