Refugees In Thailand Research Articles

Pengaturan Tentang Pengungsi Dan Tanggung Jawab UNCHR Bagi HAM Para Pengungsi

Introduction: The changes and developments of the times until now have not provided a reference for the development of international law as a whole, including in dealing with refugees.Purposes of the Research: This study aims to examine and analyze UNHCR's responsibility for the human rights of refugees in terms of international law and the regulation of refugees in terms of international law.Methods of the Research: This type of research is normative juridical where the research is carried out by collecting primary, secondary and tertiary data obtained using library research. The data that has been collected is analyzed qualitatively, the description of which is arranged systematically based on legal disciplines to achieve clarity on the issues to be discussed.Results of the Research: The results of the study show that the international standard rules that have been agreed upon by the nations of the world related to the legal arrangements for refugees are contained in the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol on the Status of Refugees. Another instrument is the Declaration of Human Rights because the refugee issue is closely related to human rights issues. In addition, there is also the UNHCR Statute which contains the roles, duties and authorities of UNHCR as an international institution dealing with refugees. UNHCR is an international institution formed, sheltered and an extension of the United Nations to specifically deal with issues related to refugees. On December 14, 1950, the UNHCR Statute established the function of UNHCR, namely to provide international protection, under the auspices of the United Nations, to refugees. In particular, UNHCR has four roles, namely as initiator, facilitator, mediator & conciliator, and as determination. In dealing with Myanmar refugees in Thailand, UNHCR uses 3 methods to deal with the refugee problem, namely Repatriation, Local Integration, and Resslement.

Krisis Pelarian dalam Hubungan Vietnam Utara dengan Thailand, 1954-1975

This article aims to analyse the issues following the presence of Vietnamese refugees in Thailand during the War (1954–1975). The focus of the analysis is on Thailand’s attitude towards Vietnamese refugees as well as the steps taken to return the refugees to Vietnam. This research uses qualitative methods, particularly document analysis, emphasising the use of British official government documents, newspapers that were published in South Vietnam and Thailand, books, and scientific articles. The findings of this study show that the presence of Vietnamese refugees during the Vietnam War created restlessness among the leaders and people of Thailand. Apart from security issues, their presence also invites social problems in Thailand. At the time, the refugee repatriation effort was carried out successfully. Still, it was thwarted by the presence of a second more enormous wave following the failure of South Vietnam to defend its country. This caused the issue to continue until the 1990s, despite Thailand’s involvement in helping the United States army defend South Vietnam during the Vietnam War 1964-1975, efforts to resolve the refugee issue are still overshadowed by the country’s cold relationship with Vietnam.

The Plight of Boat Refugees to Thailand

Abstract Thailand is a coastal State, and the plight of Rohingya boat refugees from Myanmar is an ongoing issue there. However, Thailand has no refugee laws and the State is also a non-State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Refugee issues are being treated under ad hoc decisions in Thailand; therefore, refugees have no legal status there, they are treated as illegal immigrants. Moreover, being a coastal State, Thailand rigorously controls its seas. However, Thailand signed on to core international human rights instruments which ensure protection from torture, including their guarantee of civil and political rights to all individuals within its territory. As a State-party to international maritime laws, Thailand also has obligations to assist any person at sea. Against this background, this article examines the challenges of refugee protection in Thailand, where special focus is given to the Rohingya boat refugees within an examination of its maritime laws. In conclusion, it suggests a solution for refugee protection in Thailand under the existing regime. While particular literature on the Rohingya boat refugees in Thailand is very limited, it is expected that the article will fill the gap in existing literature regarding the boat refugee issue in Thailand.

Cross-Sectional Assessment of the Association of Eosinophilia with Intestinal Parasitic Infection in U.S.-Bound Refugees in Thailand: Prevalent, Age Dependent, but of Limited Clinical Utility.

ABSTRACT.The most common causes of eosinophilia globally are helminth parasites. Refugees from high endemic areas are at increased risk of infection compared with the general U.S. population. It is widely accepted that eosinophilia is a good marker for helminth infection in this population, yet its absence has little predictive value for excluding infection. During an enhanced premigration health program, the CDC offered voluntary testing and management of intestinal parasites, among other conditions, to U.S.-bound refugees in Thailand. Stool specimens were tested for Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp., and Entamoeba histolytica using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Complete blood counts were performed to identify eosinophilia. Predictive values of eosinophilia for parasitic infections were calculated within nematode groups. Between July 9, 2012 and November 29, 2013, 2,004 participants were enrolled. About 73% were infected with at least one parasite. The overall median eosinophil count was 483 cells/μL (interquartile range [IQR] = 235–876 cells/μL). Compared with participants who did not test positive for any infection, higher eosinophil counts were observed in those infected with A. lumbricoides (RR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1–1.4), S. stercoralis (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.4–2.4), Necator americanus (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1–1.4), and Ancylostoma ceylanicum (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.5–2.2). Eosinophil counts were higher in younger participants (2–4 years versus 65+ years: RR = 4.2, 95% CI = 2.5–6.9), and lower in female participants (RR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.8–0.9). Sensitivities ranged from 51% to 73%, specificities from 48% to 65%, and predictive values from 4% to 98%. The predictive value of eosinophilia is poor for the most common parasitic infections, and it should not be used alone for screening refugees.

Rizomas etno-cinematográficos: un estudio de Manta Ray (Puttiphong Aroonpheng, 2018) y Una tierra imaginada (Yeo Siew Hua, 2018)

El artículo introduce el concepto de “rizoma etno-cinematográfico”, construido a partir del marco conceptual de Gilles Deleuze. Se trataría de un modelo de conocimiento y presentación de un mundo etno-social construido con imagen y sonido, donde el eje vertebrador es el tiempo y que se expresa apelando a la percepción sensorial del espectador. Es un modelo caracterizado por la multiplicidad y no jerárquico que, mediante un agenciamiento de sensaciones, memorias, sueños, mitos, abre la subjetividad y el tiempo a potencialidades virtuales. Se pone el ejemplo de dos películas recientes: Manta Ray (Kraben Rahu, Puttiphong Aroonpheng, 2018) y Una tierra imaginada (A Land Imagined, Yeo Siew Hua, 2018) constituidas como rizomas etnográficos para el conocimiento de los refugiados rohingya en Tailandia y los trabajadores migrantes chinos en Singapur.

Schooling for a Stateless Nation: The Predicament of Education without Consensus for Karen Refugees on the Thailand-Myanmar Border

This article addresses the issue of schooling for refugees, as members of a stateless nation, in the context of Karen refugees in Thailand. The authors used ethnographic methods of in-depth, semi-structured interviews and participant observation with over 250 residents of Mae La refugee camp. Our conceptual framework draws on theories of pedagogy for liberation and grassroots development. We found that, due to overlapping sources of authority with divergent visions of the future for refugee learners, the existential crisis of being members of a stateless nation is the most pressing issue for education to address. We suggest that a top-down approach to refugee education relying on technical solutions, while ignoring issues of history, power, and meaning-making, will ultimately fall short of being fundamentally transformative.

Displaced Rohingya and Concern for Non-traditional Security Risks in Thailand

Using a Human Security approach, this study examines Rohyinga refugees in Thailand. The Myanmar government’s refusal to offer the Rohingya citizenship has rendered them effectively stateless, denied basic rights and protections. Myanmar’s 1982 Citizenship Law was created in the name of indigenous ethnicity to deny nationality to the Rohingya. Myanmar’s military has repressed and massacred Rohingya on several occasions, most notably in 2012 and 2017. Consequently, more than a million Rohingya have fled abroad, with a relatively small number going to Thailand. The purpose of this study is to examine how the Thai government treats the displaced Rohingya and to what extent that the Rohingya pose a security risk for Southern Thailand. After intensive field work and meeting with different stakeholders, this paper argues that Thailand is not a popular destination for Rohingyas but they have generally been brought to or through Thailand by human traffickers. Due to a lack of documents, Thai authorities have often sent Rohingya to detention centers or deported them. This study did not find any link between displaced Rohingya and Malay Muslim insurgents. However, there is no consistent policy from the Thai government to deal with the displaced Rohingya.

Moving towards culturally competent health systems for migrants? Applying systems thinking in a qualitative study in Malaysia and Thailand.

Cultural competency describes interventions that aim to improve accessibility and effectiveness of health services for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Interventions include interpreter services, migrant peer educators and health worker training to provide culturally competent care. Very few studies have focussed on cultural competency for migrant service use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Migrants and refugees in Thailand and Malaysia report difficulties in accessing health systems and discrimination by service providers. In this paper we describe stakeholder perceptions of migrants' and health workers' language and cultural competency, and how this affects migrant workers' health, especially in Malaysia where an interpreter system has not yet been formalised. We conducted in-depth interviews with stakeholders in Malaysia (N = 44) and Thailand (N = 50), alongside policy document review in both countries. Data were analysed thematically. Results informed development of Systems Thinking diagrams hypothesizing potential intervention points to improve cultural competency, namely via addressing language barriers. Language ability was a core tenet of cultural competency as described by participants in both countries. Malay was perceived to be an easy language that migrants could learn quickly, with perceived proficiency differing by source country and length of stay in Malaysia. Language barriers were a source of frustration for both migrants and health workers, which compounded communication of complex conditions including mental health as well as obtaining informed consent from migrant patients. Health workers in Malaysia used strategies including google translate and hand gestures to communicate, while migrant patients were encouraged to bring friends to act as informal interpreters during consultations. Current health services are not migrant friendly, which deters use. Concerns around overuse of services by non-citizens among the domestic population may partly explain the lack of policy support for cultural competency in Malaysia. Service provision for migrants in Thailand was more culturally sensitive as formal interpreters, known as Migrant Health Workers (MHW), could be hired in public facilities, as well as Migrant Health Volunteers (MHV) who provide basic health education in communities. Perceptions of overuse by migrants in a health system acts as a barrier against system or institutional level improvements for cultural competency, in an already stretched health system. At the micro-level, language interventions with migrant workers appear to be the most feasible leverage point but raises the question of who should bear responsibility for cost and provision-employers, the government, or migrants themselves.

‘Power-Hurt’: The Pains of Kindness Among Disabled Karen Refugees in Thailand

ABSTRACTIn this paper I show how, for many Karen living as refugees in ‘temporary-shelter-areas’ in Thailand, acts of care and kindness often slipped into something painful and controlling. Drawing on fieldwork among Karen refugees disabled by landmines I show how asking for and receiving help was almost always accompanied by the visceral sensation of ana, literally, ‘power hurt’. On the one hand, ana was the force driving the circulation of care and kindness, provoking people to help others. On the other hand this circulation also carried with it the constant potential to compromise not only the recipient’s but also the donor’s ‘power’, which was understood as their capacity to have an effect on the world. In this manner ana may offer us with a way to grasp the ethical-affective basis of a social arrangement that slips smoothly between lateral solidarities and vertical hierarchical relations allowing egalitarianism and hierarchy to co-exist.

Exploring the fit of Western PTSD models across three non-Western low- and middle-income countries.

The purpose of this study was to examine the fit of existing Western posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) models across 3 non-Western low and middle income countries (LMIC). Secondary data analysis was conducted from studies among torture survivors in Northern Iraq, sexual violence survivors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Burmese refugees in Thailand. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) data to compare established Western PTSD models using (a) the 3-factor Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) 4th edition model, (b) the 4-factor “numbing” model, (c) the 4-factor “dysphoria” model, and (d) the 4- factor DSM-5 model. For both the DRC and Burma all models had adequate fit. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) determined that the 4-factor “numbing” model was the best fit for the DRC and the 4-factor “dysphoria” model was the best fit for Burma. For Iraq, none of the models had adequate fit. Results support previous research which indicates inconsistency among Western models of PTSD among populations from LMIC. Further research should explore whether this is indicative of the context or potentially other factors.

Genomic epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis during transcontinental spread.

The transcontinental spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis is poorly characterized in molecular epidemiologic studies. We used genomic sequencing to understand the establishment and dispersion of MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis within a group of immigrants to the United States. We used a genomic epidemiology approach to study a genotypically matched (by spoligotype, IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism, and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeat signature) lineage 2/Beijing MDR strain implicated in an outbreak of tuberculosis among refugees in Thailand and consecutive cases within California. All 46 MDR M. tuberculosis genomes from both Thailand and California were highly related, with a median difference of 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The Wat Tham Krabok (WTK) strain is a new sequence type distinguished from all known Beijing strains by 55 SNPs and a genomic deletion (Rv1267c) associated with increased fitness. Sequence data revealed a highly prevalent MDR strain that included several closely related but distinct allelic variants within Thailand, rather than the occurrence of a single outbreak. In California, sequencing data supported multiple independent introductions of WTK with subsequent transmission and reactivation within the state, as well as a potential super spreader with a prolonged infectious period. Twenty-seven drug resistance-conferring mutations and 4 putative compensatory mutations were found within WTK strains. Genomic sequencing has substantial epidemiologic value in both low- and high-burden settings in understanding transmission chains of highly prevalent MDR strains.

A transdiagnostic community-based mental health treatment for comorbid disorders: development and outcomes of a randomized controlled trial among Burmese refugees in Thailand.

Existing studies of mental health interventions in low-resource settings have employed highly structured interventions delivered by non-professionals that typically do not vary by client. Given high comorbidity among mental health problems and implementation challenges with scaling up multiple structured evidence-based treatments (EBTs), a transdiagnostic treatment could provide an additional option for approaching community-based treatment of mental health problems. Our objective was to test such an approach specifically designed for flexible treatments of varying and comorbid disorders among trauma survivors in a low-resource setting. We conducted a single-blinded, wait-list randomized controlled trial of a newly developed transdiagnostic psychotherapy, Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), for low-resource settings, compared with wait-list control (WLC). CETA was delivered by lay workers to Burmese survivors of imprisonment, torture, and related traumas, with flexibility based on client presentation. Eligible participants reported trauma exposure and met severity criteria for depression and/or posttraumatic stress (PTS). Participants were randomly assigned to CETA (n = 182) or WLC (n = 165). Outcomes were assessed by interviewers blinded to participant allocation using locally adapted standard measures of depression and PTS (primary outcomes) and functional impairment, anxiety symptoms, aggression, and alcohol use (secondary outcomes). Primary analysis was intent-to-treat (n = 347), including 73 participants lost to follow-up. CETA participants experienced significantly greater reductions of baseline symptoms across all outcomes with the exception of alcohol use (alcohol use analysis was confined to problem drinkers). The difference in mean change from pre-intervention to post-intervention between intervention and control groups was -0.49 (95% CI: -0.59, -0.40) for depression, -0.43 (95% CI: -0.51, -0.35) for PTS, -0.42 (95% CI: -0.58, -0.27) for functional impairment, -0.48 (95% CI: -0.61, -0.34) for anxiety, -0.24 (95% CI: -0.34, -0.15) for aggression, and -0.03 (95% CI: -0.44, 0.50) for alcohol use. This corresponds to a 77% reduction in mean baseline depression score among CETA participants compared to a 40% reduction among controls, with respective values for the other outcomes of 76% and 41% for anxiety, 75% and 37% for PTS, 67% and 22% for functional impairment, and 71% and 32% for aggression. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) were large for depression (d = 1.16) and PTS (d = 1.19); moderate for impaired function (d = 0.63), anxiety (d = 0.79), and aggression (d = 0.58); and none for alcohol use. There were no adverse events. Limitations of the study include the lack of long-term follow-up, non-blinding of service providers and participants, and no placebo or active comparison intervention. CETA provided by lay counselors was highly effective across disorders among trauma survivors compared to WLCs. These results support the further development and testing of transdiagnostic approaches as possible treatment options alongside existing EBTs. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01459068 Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Security, Economy and the Modes of Refugees’ Livelihood Pursuit: Focus on Karen Refugees in Thailand

:This article is a case study of Burmese Karen refugees residing in refugee camps in Thailand. It examines how the relations between a host government and international relief agencies are shaped by the issues of security and economy and how these issues consequently affect the livelihoods of refugees. The study divides the history of Karen refugees into three periods: 1984 to 1995, 1995 to 2005, and 2005 to 2011. The influences on the government’s attitude toward refugees and toward the international relief agencies are identified for each period and the modes of the refugees’ livelihood are examined. The study contends that the host government’s concerns about security and economy are key factors shaping the government’s refugee policies, relations between the government and international relief agencies, and the mode of refugees’ pursuit of a livelihood. When security issues are dominant, the attitude of the government toward international relief agencies is negative and consequently the refugees’ options are restricted. In contrast, when economic issues are dominant, the government takes a positive stance toward international relief agencies, which play a bigger role, and the welfare of refugees improves.

Stretching the Border: Confinement, Mobility and the Refugee Public among Karen Refugees in Thailand and Burma

In this paper, I hope to add a complementary perspective to James Scott's recent work on avoidance strategies of subaltern mountain people by focusing on what I call the refugee public. The educated Karen elite uses the space of exile in the Thai borderland to reconstitute resources and to re-enter Karen state in Eastern Burma as humanitarians, providing medical, educational resources and help to document human rights violations and do advocacy work. In addition, local missionaries and faith-based groups also use the corridor to spread the word of God. I argue that Karen humanitarian community-based organizations succeed to stretch the border by establishing a firm presence that is supported by the international humanitarian economy in the refugee camps in Northwestern Thailand.

Trapped in Their Own Rings: Padaung Women and Their Fight for Traditional Freedom

Trapped in Their Own Rings: Padaung Women and Their Fight for Traditional Freedom Jessica Theurer Abstract The Burmese, Padaung tribe, are known internationally for their long brass rings that collapse their collarbones, creating the illusion of an elongated neck. The tribe has been persecuted for generations, but since they have relocated to Thailand as refugees, they are trapped in their tourism-driven camps. The women now have a decision to make: take off their neck rings so they can relocate, or stay true to their tradition, and provide for their families through tourism. The Thai village officials have refused medical care, education, rightful wages, and technology to keep the camps as primitive as possible for the tourists. This paper also discusses the Burmese military regime and how they gained power, as well as how the Padaung tribe became Burmese refugees in Thailand. This paper argues that as more individuals view the Padaung refugee camps as simply tourist attractions, more women and their families will continue to suffer. By spreading awareness, the Thai government will be forced to award relocation and essentially release these women from the decision between their freedom and their cultural tradition. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/ijgws.v2n4a3

Human trafficking: the case of Burmese refugees in Thailand

With an estimated 30 protracted refugee situations around the globe, the number of refugees finding themselves in prolonged displacement is alarming. While demarcated refugee camps are a visible component of this phenomenon, the link between protracted displacement and increased risks of human trafficking is much less evident. Within refugee camps, the lack of law and order or police protection along with the presence of large numbers of helpless people create a pool of readily available supply for those who want to exploit them. This account will discuss the conditions of displacement that contribute to human trafficking risks, particularly as they relate to the protracted refugee situation of Burmese in Thailand. The case study will be followed by a number of policy and practice recommendations for the reduction of these risks.

Postconflict History Curriculum Revision as an “Intergroup Encounter” Promoting Interethnic Reconciliation among Burmese Migrants and Refugees in Thailand

Recent literature shows that revising history curricula in postconflict settings can either worsen or ameliorate identity conflict. I conceptualize history curriculum revision workshops as intergroup encounters (IGEs) and analyze the conditions under which reconciliation emerges. I conducted participant observation with multiethnic groups of Burmese migrant and refugee educational stakeholders who were holding curriculum revision workshops in Thailand. I identify six “stepping-stones” to reconciliation: hearing other ethnic groups’ historical narratives, realizing that multiple perspectives on history exist, “stepping into the shoes” of others, complicating master narratives about identity, exposing intraethnic divisions to outsiders, and forming cross-ethnic relationships. This process is neither linear nor predictable, and I identify obstacles to reconciliation that may arise.

Insecure Legal Status of Refugee: Right to Freedom from Arbitrary Detention and Freedom of Movement - A Case Study of Pakistani Ahmadi Refugees in Thailand

Insecure Legal Status of Refugee: Right to Freedom from Arbitrary Detention and Freedom of Movement - A Case Study of Pakistani Ahmadi Refugees in Thailand

Hmong and American: from refugees to citizens

Farmers in Laos, U.S. allies during the Vietnam War, refugees in Thailand, citizens of the Western world -- the stories of the Hmong who now live in America have been told in detail through books and articles and oral histories over the past several decades. Like any immigrant group, members of the first generation may yearn for the past as they watch their children and grandchildren find their way in the dominant culture of their new home. For Hmong people born and educated in the United States, a definition of self often includes traditional practices and tight-knit family groups but also a distinctly Americanised point of view. How do Hmong Americans negotiate the expectations of these two very different cultures? In an engaging series of essays featuring a range of writing styles, leading scholars, educators, artists, and community activists explore themes of history, culture, gender, class, family, and sexual orientation, weaving their own stories into depictions of a Hmong American community where people continue to develop complex identities that are collectively shared but deeply personal as they help to redefine the multicultural America of today. Contributors: Mary Louise Buley-Meissner, Amy DeBroux, Jeremy Hein, Vincent K Her, Don Hones, Gary Yia Lee, Song Lee, Pao Lor, Bic Ngo, Keith Quincy, Chan Vang, Hue Vang, Ka Vang, Kou Vang, May Vang, Ma Lee Xiong, Shervun Xiong, Kao Kalia Yang, Kou Yang.

The Modes of Livelihood Pursuits of the Burmese Karen Refugees in Thailand: Focus on the Impacts of Relations between the State, International Relief Agencies, and Local Society

The Modes of Livelihood Pursuits of the Burmese Karen Refugees in Thailand: Focus on the Impacts of Relations between the State, International Relief Agencies, and Local Society