A panel discussion on Rohingya refugees' rights was banned by Thai authorities, who were concerned it would undermine Thailand's good relations with Myanmar, as State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi kicked off her official visit yesterday.
The police stopped a press conference and talks from taking place at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) yesterday morning. Rohingya rights advocates, who urged the Myanmar government to address the statelessness of the Rohingya population and bestow them with Myanmar nationality, were asked to call off the event.
Officers from Lumpini police station told the event coordinators late on Wednesday night the discussion threatened national security, a source close to the organisers said. The source asked to remain anonymous due to pressure from Thai authorities.
Representatives from the Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons, Asylum Access, and Fortify Rights met police early yesterday.
Fortify Rights human rights specialist Puttanee Kangkan said that after two hours of negotiations they were allowed to proceed with the event, on the condition they only read out their prepared statements.
No questions from the floor or interviews were permitted. The conference was closely monitored by plain-clothed officers.
Police also visited Rohingya activist Haji Ismail at his home yesterday and escorted him to the FCCT, where he was to be a speaker.
Mr Ismail chose to not read out an open letter to Ms Suu Kyi.
"Please call us Rohingya -- only Rohingya!" Mr Ismail said in lieu of his prepared statement, referring to Ms Suu Kyi's controversial call for foreign governments not to refer to the Rohingya ethnic population as such.
Human Rights Watch researcher Sunai Phasuk said it was unacceptable the government is trying to silence rights advocates.
"Aung San Suu Kyi must not be an accomplice to such restrictions on freedom of expression," he said, adding he hoped news of the panel's cancellation would be reported to the state counsellor. "Not speaking about the Rohingya people at home is bad enough, but allowing governments of neighbouring countries to help make this a non-issue is even worse," he added.