Nestled amidst the bustling cityscape of Bangkok, a church stands as a sanctuary for Vietnamese refugees. These individuals, gambling daily with the specter of arrest and deportation, have found a place of respite in a country that doesn’t offer them any official legal recognition. Thailand’s absence from the UN Refugee Convention means it has no framework to segregate refugees from other migrants, leaving thousands living secretively and precariously.
Yet, change is on the horizon, as a new system that aims to identify those truly at risk of danger if returned to their homeland, from those present illegally, is soon to be implemented. However, this supposed reprieve is wrapped in uncertainty and apprehension, with refugees and rights activists voicing fears of potential misuse leading to faster deportations.
Sung Seo Hoa, a Vietnamese pastor and a part of Vietnam’s Hmong minority, embodies these concerns poignantly. Having escaped the oppressive arm of his country’s communist government more than a decade ago, he now lives with the constant dread of police arrest, incarceration, and enforced return to Vietnam. “24 hours a day, that’s what we are very afraid of,” he asserted. The introduction of the new screening process only intensifies his uncertainties, and he has resolved to not participate due to the involved risks.
The incoming National Screening Mechanism, due for a reveal later this month, will utilize Thai police to screen predominantly urban refugees and asylum seekers. If deemed a protected person, the individual will be given temporary residence permits, access to healthcare and schools; however, work rights will remain unobtainable. Concerns hover regarding potential vulnerabilities related to national security, and how they might impact groups like the Uyghurs from China, Rohingyas from Myanmar, and North Koreans, as per the Bangkok Post report.
Asia’s deputy director at Human Rights Watch, Phil Robertson, cautioned about possible abuses due to the police helming the screening committee, and the lack of clarity regarding these national security loopholes. Echoing these concerns, Patrick Phongsathorn from campaign group Fortify Rights expressed trepidation about the system’s past deportations, recognizing them as a fostering source of distrust.
Another growing worry is that the new system becomes an arena for wealth disparity where status can be purchased. The incorporation of a criminal background check feature may inadvertently target Myanmar anti-coup activists wrongfully charged. Yet, amidst this cloud of doubt, some assurances have been made by the Thai Department of International Organizations, stating its commitment to uphold privacy, confidentiality, and the non-refoulement principle that forbids the return of rejected applicants to their home countries.
Despite the apprehension and fear surrounding the new system, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees affirms that it has been collaboratively working with Thailand to develop a protection mechanism that aligns with international standards in terms of fairness, efficiency, and transparency.
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