Rohingya cast out of fire, into the frying pan

COMMENTARY

Rohingya cast out of fire, into the frying pan

Published: 19 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When Hussein cooks, the whole community rubs its stomach and rejoices. The Rohingya's kitchen repertoire of Burmese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and northern Indian hybrids - it's hard to classify the origin of his menu of dry-fried ribs, complexly spiced curries, mutton biryani and other marvels - is a feast at Islamic functions and wedding ceremonies in a Bang Rak soi.

During Ramadan, Hussein, a chef at Haroon Mosque on Charoen Krung, rolls out masterpieces for a few hundred souls who gather each evening, while in other months his big iron pots (his WMD; Weapons of Mass Delicacy) are kept on fire by orders from locals.

Hussein, 50, is what we can call a luckier Rohingya. He has a Myanmar passport and a Thai residence visa, and although he emigrated to Bangkok over 10 years ago, he still goes back to visit his family in Yangon a couple of times a year.

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Modin
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Discussion 4 : 21 Jan 2013 at 13.474
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sugar coat it all you like, the south where teachers are under attack or the situation with the rohinga in burma. the common denominator in disharmony and violence is islam. It doesnt matter what country it is, there is always violence. The difference seems to be that the karin and others dont get a mention in the international news for 20+ years, but everyone knows who the rohinga are all of the sudden
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rockderk
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Discussion 3 : 19 Jan 2013 at 15.483
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First, we learn that a group of 300 or so Rohingya had been 'rescued'from a farm near Sadao. Then, that the land belonged to the ex mayor of Padang Besar [ who has fled ?]. Next, there were 74 children amongst them. At this point, I was aghast, thinking that these kids were going to be deported without the UNHCR determining their status. Suddenly, today, the news takes on a fairyland theme, with children pictured weeping with joy at the kindness of Thai 'Muslims and Buddhists' . No kindly Christians though, apparently, but never mind, all is well in smile-land once again....and if you buy that, I have a slightly used aircraft carrier for sale
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xanderbkk
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Discussion 2 : 19 Jan 2013 at 11.582
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Good article that sums up very clearly the bad situation these people are in, crushed between politics.
By giving it a face like Hussein it becomes much clearer. And how stupid politicians can be to connect these people with militants only because
they are moslims. That is just what the fundamentalists are doing the other way round. Says enough about the Thai government but that is not new, I guess.
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bangmodken
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Discussion 1 : 19 Jan 2013 at 10.311
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It was a disgusting act by the Abhisit-led government to tow them off to sea. That stain can never be washed off the otherwise clean image of Abhisit. I hope he seriously regret it.
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Rohingya cast out of fire, into the frying pan | Bangkok Post: opinion