2009-01-13 06:53:05 -
Phuket online news source exposes the secret human rights violations on the doorstep of the Thailand's luxury resorts
IN A WEEK when Phuket, Thailand is hailed as the 'luxury destination of the year' in the New York Times, PhuketWan reporters break an important story about a group of impoverished people being turned away in large numbers from the Andaman coast's sunny shores -- the Rohingya of Burma.
Men from the Muslim minority group has been setting sail in the hundreds over the past few months in a desperate attempt to find better fortunes in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
PhuketWan was the first to report January 9 on the Thai Army's secret operation to round up the Rohingya found along Thailand's Andaman Coast, put them into exile on Red Sand Island, then push them off to sea in the same boats
they arrived on in the dead of night.
It has since been picked up by the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.
Since this Rohingya report came to light, the non-governmental organization Refugees International has expressed outrage at the human rights violations and called for the Thai army to halt its mistreatment of the boat people.
In the New York Times travel article, the writer describes his day on the beach, where .the sea remains lambent and calm, and the air touches one's cheek like a kiss."
For the Rohingya, PhuketWan has found, this same sea is where hopes for a better life are dashed, where these same tropical islands become a destination of further misery to their plight.
PhuketWan in the same week reported the inundation of jellyfish in Patong and other Phuket beaches, with a spectacular photo album of the sea creatures on the tourist beaches.
Phuket and the Andaman Coast region is a far more complex and compelling place than it appears in the travel guides and reviews.
Since launching in January 2008 PhuketWan has published more than 700 original stories chronicling the island resort's development and its challenges.
Those who want to know the real Phuket -- visit www.phuketwan.com.
