why thailand hate myanmar

The outbreak was first detected last week at a … A previous coronavirus scare flared recently when several Thai women returned home, some using illegal border crossings, after an outbreak at the nightlife spot where they worked in Myanmar. Facebook came under heavy criticism for the role it played in spreading hate speech that fuelled violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in 2017 and has since invested in systems that can rapidly detect and remove such content. Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares in Thailand after virus spread. We investigate why the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing migrant workers – the backbone of Malaysia’s economy – into hiding. The independent Social Media Monitoring for Peace group said it found hundreds of comments classified as hate speech on YouTube with others on Facebook and Twitter. Please consider subscribing today so we can continue offering you up-to-date, in-depth news about Japan. Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. Bangkok shutdown fuels mass exodus of migrants but those left behind worry about survival as factories close. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. One of the many incendiary comments on social media seen by Reuters called for infected migrant workers to remain untreated and punishment for people that brought them into Thailand. The eyes of the world's media have been focused on Burma this week, for the first visit from a US Secretary of State since since 1955. The three-fingered salute first gained traction in Thailand, Myanmar’s neighbor to the southeast, when protesters started utilizing the salute after the May 2014 military coup. There are similarly stunning places in the world without the tourist traps of Thailand. The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. “Our judgement is that silent carriers have been present in Thailand,” said Sein Htay of the Yangon-based Migrant Worker Rights Network. “The comments included racist language aimed at triggering discrimination and promoting nationalism,” said the group’s Saijai Liangpunsakul. The outbreak, first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, has prompted a surge in online hate speech as well as questions over Thailand’s treatment of millions of migrant workers. “Today they are our family. After Reuters flagged some posts, Facebook said it had removed several for violating hate speech policies. … Both Myanmar and Thai people are Buddhists.”. Although Thailand reported few local transmissions in recent months, Myanmar had detected cases in citizens returning from Thailand. One of the many incendiary comments on social media seen by Reuters called for migrant workers diagnosed with the disease to remain untreated as punishment for people that brought them into Thailand. In Thailand, COVID was first detected in a 67-year-old woman. When Myanmar—known as Burma at the time— became independent from British rule in 1948, the Rohingya were able to participate in the political life of the country, obtaining statehood status for Rakhine in 1974. Government spokespeople in Thailand and Myanmar did not respond immediately to requests for comment on hate speech. Migrant workers from Maynmar prepare a fishing boat in the Thai coastal province of Samut Sakhon in 2018. The rhetoric reflects a global pattern since the start of the pandemic of foreigners being blamed for spreading the virus. It’s not that I hate Thailand, I just feel that there are better places to go in Asia such as South Korea, Philippines and Burma. In the past, ethnic groups who lived along the Thai-Myanmar borders, especially the Karen, the Mon and the Shan, spontaneously crossed the borders to visit friends, buy goods or seek healthcare services in the area regularly. “We’re concerned that online discrimination could translate into further discrimination and even lead to real-world violence.”. YouTube did not respond to requests for comment. YouTube did not respond to requests for comment. | REUTERS. Although Thailand reported few local transmissions in recent months, Myanmar had detected cases in citizens returning form Thailand. Facebook came under heavy criticism for the role it played in spreading hate speech that fueled violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in 2017 and has since invested in systems that can rapidly detect and remove such content. Why Myanmar Hates the Rohingya. Pro-military marchers in Myanmar attack anti-coup protesters. It looks like you're using an ad blocker. SAN FRANCISCO — Video of the deadly assault of an elderly Thai man in the U.S. was released on Monday by his family, who suspected it to be a hate crime. Facebook in 2018 removed the accounts of the commander in chief of the Myanmar military, Min Aung Hlaing, and other military top brass after coming under pressure including from the United Nations for doing too little to stop the proliferation of hate speech on … Why The Gambia is suing Myanmar for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority November 15, 2019 November 15, 2019 The Gambia successfully filed a case at the International Court of Justice on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that accuses Myanmar of a genocide campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Cross-border migration of people from Myanmar to Thailand has a long history spanning many decades. To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha this week said illegal immigration was behind the outbreak in a country that had brought COVID-19 under control, even though Thailand’s virus task force appealed for sympathy for immigrants. China eyes next-generation chip technology to take on global rivals, Suga says two-week emergency extension 'necessary' for Tokyo, COVID-19 vaccine recipient in Japan dies but connection uncertain, Japan asks China to stop anal COVID-19 tests on Japanese citizens, Japanese, British and Germans oppose holding Tokyo Olympics this year. Not all the social media traffic has been negative, with some Thais defending the Myanmar workers. “Living conditions for Myanmar workers are difficult for social distancing with three or four to a room.”. Despite the accusations against Myanmar workers of crossing the border illegally, Thais have done so too. Under pressure from the U.N. and international human rights groups, Facebook banned about 20 Myanmar military-linked individuals and organizations in 2018, including Commander in Chief Min Aung … However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name “Living conditions for Myanmar workers are difficult for social distancing with three or four to a room.”. “The comments included racist language aimed at triggering discrimination and promoting nationalism,” said the group’s Saijai Liangpunsakul. If you're not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site. Similar outbreaks among migrant workers living close together in Malaysia and Singapore showed how the virus can spread undetected among healthy young people who show few symptoms. “Wherever you see Myanmar people, shoot them down,” read one Thai comment on YouTube after a surge of coronavirus cases among workers from Myanmar. ': How a changing virus is reshaping scientists’ views on COVID-19, Episode 84: Ghosts of the Tsunami — The tragedy at Okawa Elementary School, Directory of who’s who in the world of business in Japan. He added, “Hate speech is certainly of course a part of that.”. Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares in Thailand over spread of COVID The latest outbreak was first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, prompting a flare-up in online hate speech. “We are told ‘this happened because of you Myanmar’. A Rohingya Muslim woman who fled from ongoing military operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state gets off a boat after crossing over from Myanmar into … I am the latter. Officially, Thailand has nearly 1.6 million workers from Myanmar, almost two-thirds of all migrant workers, but the real figure is higher because of illegal immigration. Facebook and other social media platforms came under enormous criticism in 2017 when right groups said they failed to act enough to stop hate speech against Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority. Thailand has traditionally been seen as tolerant of foreigners, but a historic enmity has been revived on social media with references to the 18th century destruction by Burmese forces of Ayutthaya, capital of what was then known as Siam. Migrant workers stand in front of the closed Central Shrimp Market in Muang district of Samut Sakhon province on Sunday. “We feel really sad that we Myanmar workers are being blamed,” said Nay Lin Thu, a 35-year-old worker from Myanmar who has now volunteered to help others. “We feel really sad that we Myanmar workers are being blamed,” said Nay Lin Thu, a 35-year-old worker from Myanmar who has now volunteered to help others. Twitter said it was looking into the issue. “Thai people won’t take the jobs they are doing,” Taweesin Wisanuyothin, of Thailand’s COVID-19 task force said as he pleaded for tolerance in a televised broadcast. The outbreak was first detected last week at a shrimp market at Samut Sakhon, barely 35 kilometers (20 miles) from central Bangkok. Thousands have been confined to cramped dormitories in a move experts fear could worsen outbreak among workers. Since then nearly 1,300 infections linked to the market have been found while thousands of people have been quarantined. In particular, with Burmese labor migration abroad on the rise, policymakers are examining ways in which to harness remittances as a vehicle for economic development, particularly in impoverished rural areas. Officially, Thailand has nearly 1.6 million workers from Myanmar, almost two-thirds of all migrant workers, but the real figure is higher because of illegal immigration. Government spokespeople in Thailand and Myanmar did not respond immediately to requests for comment on hate speech. Relations between Burma and Thailand focus mainly on economic issues and trade. YANGON, Myanmar – In April, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg told U.S. senators that the social media site was hiring dozens more Burmese speakers to review hate speech posted in Myanmar. “Our judgement is that silent carriers have been present in Thailand,” said Sein Htay of the Yangon-based Migrant Worker Rights Network. Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. The outbreak, first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, has prompted a flare-up in such online hate speech as well as questions over the treatment of millions of migrant workers in traditionally tolerant Thailand. The independent Social Media Monitoring for Peace group told Reuters it found hundreds of comments classified as hate speech on YouTube with others on Facebook and Twitter. Why do the US and the UK not use its official name, Myanmar? Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha this week said illegal immigration was behind the outbreak in a country that had brought COVID-19 under control, although Thailand’s virus task force appealed for sympathy for immigrants. “We are told ‘this happened because of you Myanmar.’ Mostly we do not respond but some of us couldn’t contain their anger.”. Having emerged from a long era of military rule, Myanmar's leaders and many citizens are looking outward. Thailand has an embassy in Yangon. Most migrants are labourers or work in service industries. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. The rhetoric reflects a global pattern since the start of the pandemic of foreigners being blamed for spreading the virus. “We’re concerned that online discrimination could translate into further discrimination and even lead to real-world violence.”. “Myanmar people are being labelled for transmitting COVID-19, but the virus doesn’t discriminate,” said Sompong Srakaew of the Labour Protection Network, a Thai group helping migrant workers. Similar outbreaks among migrant workers living close together in Malaysia and Singapore showed how easily the virus could spread undetected among healthy young people who show few symptoms. A previous coronavirus scare flared recently when several Thai women returned home, some using illegal border crossings, after an outbreak at the nightlife spot where they worked in Myanmar. How the new cases first appeared in Thailand is unclear. There is sporadic conflict with Thailand over three disputed islands. It was first detected in a 67-year-old woman. in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. Government spokespeople in Thailand and Myanmar did not respond immediately to requests for comment on hate speech. Twitter said it was looking into the issue. While tourism has increased, many people still remain unaware of Myanmar, or why it changed its name from Burma. Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares over virus. Shifting sentiment has had real consequences, he said, with workers from Myanmar, previously known as Burma, being blocked from buses, motorcycle taxis and offices. The outbreak, first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, has prompted a flare-up in such online hate speech as well as questions over the treatment of millions of migrant workers in traditionally tolerant Thailand. Not all the social media traffic has been negative, with some Thais defending the Myanmar workers. BANGKOK, Dec 24 ― “Wherever you see Myanmar people, shoot them down,” read one Thai comment on YouTube after a surge of coronavirus cases among workers from Myanmar. Thailand has traditionally been seen as tolerant of foreigners, but an historic enmity has been revived on social media with references to the 18th-century destruction by Burmese forces of Ayutthaya, capital of what was then known as Siam. Myanmar has suffered a much more severe outbreak of coronavirus, with over 2,500 dead from nearly 120,000 confirmed cases compared with 60 fatalities from over 5,800 cases in Thailand. Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. Myanmar–Thailand relations refers to the current and historical relations between Myanmar (also known as Burma) and Thailand. Myanmar has an embassy in Bangkok. Since the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, The Japan Times has been providing free access to crucial news on the impact of the novel coronavirus as well as practical information about how to cope with the pandemic. 広告出稿に関するおといあわせはこちらまで. A migrant worker from Myanmar work at a street market in Bangkok amid the pandemic [Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters]“We know that hate speech targeted towards vulnerable communities can be the most harmful,” a Facebook spokesperson said, saying its technology detected 95 percent of hate speech. Officially, Thailand has nearly 1.6 million workers from Myanmar, almost two-thirds of all migrant workers, but the real figure is higher because of illegal immigration. Facebook and other social media platforms came under enormous criticism in 2017 when right groups said they failed to act enough to stop hate speech against Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority. The outbreak was first detected last week at a prawn market at Samut Sakhon, barely 35 km (20 miles) from central Bangkok. Most migrants are laborers or work in service industries. The government in Burma, also known as Myanmar, is set to revoke temporary identification cards for minorities including its 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims. To learn more see our FAQ, In Iceland, 18,000 earthquakes over days signal possible eruption on horizon, Ken Watanabe's support for survivors of 3/11 is a 'lifetime's work', Robot pets help ease virus isolation in Japan, Tesla demand picks up in Japan following aggressive price cut, 'When will it end? An estimated 1,300 infections linked to a market outside Bangkok have been found while thousands of people have been quarantined [Soe Ziya Tun/Reuters]Myanmar has suffered a much more severe outbreak of coronavirus, with more than 2,500 dead from nearly 120,000 confirmed cases compared with 60 fatalities from at least 5,800 cases in Thailand. Getty In August 2018, Reuters found that Facebook did not adequately moderate both hate speech and calls for genocide of the Rohingya minority Muslim group in Myanmar. The latest outbreak was first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, prompting a flare-up in online hate speech. | AFP-JIJI. AP Photo. “When we left Myanmar, the situation was not good,” says 82-year-old Pree, a Karen refugee.