The Government of Thailand in May still be angry with Angelina Jolie to talk on behalf of the poor people of the sea, but the actress has raised awareness among some in the South-East Asia. For a second day, Thai officials reprimanded the globe-trotter Features call for countries to respect the rights of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar in the vicinity of people fleeing the military dictatorship.
"It was not her role to comment on the matter," spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thai Thar Charungvat said Thursday. Angelina Jolie was in Thailand last week as a goodwill ambassador for UN toured northern camp for refugees from Myanmar.
The Thai authorities have regularly been accused of abuse of Rohingya refugees, including towing more than 1000 open to the sea and letting them die in boat motors without late last year. Some drifted off the coasts of India and Indonesia later weeks, but hundreds of other survivors are dead. Thailand has denied any abuse, but said that the boat people are economic migrants, not refugees.
The local press has seized on the controversy - but not all, took the party of government.
"Instead of blaming Jolie ... why not start talking about the problem? "an editorial in the English language The Nation asked, calling the government to reconsider its policy based on humanitarian principles."
Pavin Chachavalpongpun Thai academic, writing in the Bangkok Post, has even stated that a "brand of Thai-ness has prevented the company successfully completed the responsibility for feeding human rights."
Angelina Jolie - who has visited refugees in many hot spots including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sudan - did not directly criticize the actions of Thailand. His comment in question merely expressed the hope of the United Nations through a statement that the authorities respect the rights of all refugees and Rohingya.
