Immigration and Royal Thai army conducted a joint raid and arrested fifteen people including men and women at Suppoka Apartment, Sutthisan Bangkok.
Out of the fifteen people caught, ten were Pakistani Christians whereas one Pakistani Sunni Muslim and four Sri Lankan Christians are also detained
Heavily armored police and army broke through the pad locked doors after 9am (GMT+6) and forced people out of their rooms. There were scenes of wailing
as the women begged to the immigration to let them go. Seeing their desperate situation, the police let the women with children stay but arrested all
adults including men and women. Panic struck through the whole building as some hid themselves under the bed, behind cupboards and inside the washrooms.
Police went away taking as many as they could but returned in the afternoon to check if any were left behind.
Our Thailand officer, Christian Malik gathered evidence on the ground. He said: “Utter scenes of desperation were seen as people fell on their knees
and begged for their freedom. Children were struck with a trauma after they witnessed being separated from their fathers. This act of aggression is
unjustifiable across the world and all western states should question Thai authorities and UNHCR for their role in stopping this brutal incarceration.”
People were brought in a van loaded with people. When they came out, they were handcuffed in group of 6 and were struggling to move. After hearing
verdict from the judge, BPCA paid fines of overstay for 6 people and prevented them from being sent to Central jail. People are currently detained
in a jail inside a block of IDC (Immigration Detention Center) and will be sent to prison cells where hundreds of Pakistani Christians are suffering
because being unable to afford a hefty bail amount of £1,000. The amount is a security deposit for 2 years and will be returned after the person moves
out of Thailand.
In a separate meeting, our Thailand representative Christian Malik met with a delegation of Christian Solidarity International (CSI). It included
Mr. Herbert Meier, an advocate and president of CSI, Mr. Gunnar Weibalck and Pastor Mukhtar Masih from Karachi, Pakistan. During the meeting, CSI expressed
their deep concern about the destitute situation of Pakistani Asylum seekers in Bangkok and are extremely worried about the indefinite detentions that
Pakistani Christians in IDC. During the meeting Christian told them about the ongoing projects of BPCA and our partnerships with Jubilee, VOP, Trott
B Ministries and UCHG. After the meeting, Mr. Herbert and Gunnar wished to meet Wilson Chowdhry and Lord David Alton about coming up with an eminent
solution to pressurize UNHCR so they expedite the cases.
Please pray for the people as they bear witness of their faith among the non-believers. May God soften the hearts of the Thais so they may show compassion
and stop re-persecuting Pakistani Christians.
Women being taken to IDC after their court fines were paid.
Faces have been blurred to conceal their identity.
Christian Malik with Gunner Weibalck and Herbert Meier from Christian Solidarity International.