Episode # 1

There are a lot of Ahmadi refugees in Thailand who came to Thailand since 2012 and earlier and many of them are waiting for their resettlement to any third Country. These refugees have spent a life time in Thailand with a little help of UNHCR and affiliated agencies / Organizations like BRC (Bangkok Refugee Center), Tzu chi (https://www.tzuchithailand.org/), Mirror Foundation, Asylum access, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and some others.

There is a lot to talk about these refugees but today I am going to focus on a specific topic.

As these refugees belongs to Ahmadiyya Muslim community (www.alislam.org) this community claims that they are the well wisher of Human Being and everyone who is in suffering situation Ahmadiyya Muslim Community claims that they try their level best to help them through various sources like Humanity First (https://humanityfirst.org/).

According to Thai and International Law it is obligatory for Non-Profit Organization to be registered in Thailand.

Followings are the key points regarding Non-Profit Organizations operating in Thailand

1. GROUPS CANNOT OPERATE WITHOUT BEING REGISTERED, SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

2. THE BILL AUTHORIZES INVASIVE INSPECTIONS AND BURDENSOME REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

3. THE BILL VESTS FULL CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT OF NPOS WITH THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR.

4. THE BILL INSTITUTES BLANKET RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN FUNDING TO NPOS.

A complete guideline regarding this law can be read here:

https://www.icnl.org/post/analysis/5-things-to-know-about-thailands-proposed-npo-bill

In Thailand Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is not yet registered as a charity or humanitarian organization as I have checked online charity database in Thailand (https://www.givingbackassoc.org/english/charities-database/) as well as I have sent multiple emails to some office bearers in Thailand who claims that they are the official representatives of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Thailand. Details are as follows:

All these refugees are devoted members of Ahmadiyya Muslim community and Ahmadiyya Muslim community is well known for its financial sacrifices from its members.

Thailand is not a member of 1951 convention signatories so anyone who is recognized as a refugee in Thailand by UNHCR is illegal immigrant in Thailand if he/she does not posses a valid visa to live in the kingdom of Thailand.

So being a refugee in Thailand means as follows:

1. Remain illegal immigrant until possession of a valid visa to live in Thailand

2. Can not work without a valid visa

3. Renting a house or apartment is difficult without a valid visa

4. Children can not have access to proper education without a valid visa in Thailand.

5. Can be arrested anytime by immigration Police without a valid visa in Thailand

And many more.

So being a refugee in kingdom of Thailand is not a simple task, Ahmadi refugees here in Thailand are living a life which is verry difficult they can not work and earn to fulfil their basic needs. So, How do these Refugees spent their life in Thailand,

1. Relatives of these refugees living abroad helps them to meet their basic needs

2. UNHCR and affiliated organizations try to help these refugees

3. Some refugees work illegally in Thailand to fulfil their basic needs

4. Some charity organizations in Thailand help these refugees

Now, these Refugees belongs to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and they are left for help from other organizations and charity organization.

As stated, earlier Ahmadiyya Muslim community is not legally registered yet in Thailand even than some people who claim to be official representative of Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Thailand are involved in taking forced donations from these poor refugees on monthly basis, these donations are worth millions of Bahts in Thailand every month. These office bearers of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Thailand have also taken a lot of money for the sake of a mosque in Thailand and amount was 3000/- Baht each refugee family in Thailand.

Here are some of the examples of donations taken in Thailand by Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

Below is a letter of declaration from the refugees that how much they earned for a specified fiscal year and how much they paid and how mush is outstanding.

Here is the example of the donations fixed amount to be paid.

Translation of this message is as follows:

Assalam o alikum,

From fiscal year 2018–2019 the minimum amount of 1020 Baht yearly which is equal to 85/- baht per month has been fixed. So many inquiry letters have shown many as low payments.

This fixed amount is same for both male and female members of the community.

In previous years who have paid below this fixed amount are shown as arrears by Wakalt Maal sani.

Also wakalat maal sani has instructed that those who will not pay according to this fixed amount their payments will be shown as arrears and their wasiat will be cancelled.

When someone asks that where are these donations being used then Office bearers of Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Thailand gave its member a shut-up call with a threat that you will be excluded from the community and your case will be rejected in UNHCR.

Ahmadiyya Muslim community Thailand is involved in a crime of taking donations illegally as well as persecuting and threatening its refugee members in Thailand.

There is also a video of Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community world wide saying that He has asked all office bearers to refrain from taking donations from Illegal people.

Video can be seen here.

Below is an official letter given to me by National Finance secretary Thailand Mr. Prasit Rakphrapaphan (Juma Khan).

My sincere request from Ahmadiyya Muslim community Thailand as well as worldwide to explain why Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is involved in this illegal activity.

And my request from relevant authorities to investigate this matter as the charity and other human rights organizations help these poor Ahmadi refugees and Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Thailand took this help in donations by force.

Do these poor refugees have any rights to live like a normal life?

Next Episode regarding this matter will be shared in next few days.