Jonathan Head

BBC SE Asia Correspondent

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

https://t.co/5x8nEVIkTc

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

https://t.co/8QmI4I3PP1

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@MaisarraAnuar By most definitions yes they are refugees but they are also stateless. Myanmar does not accept them as citizens. Very few, if any, will have any such documentation. That is the root of the Rohingya crisis. In Myanmar they are unrecognized & subject to all kinds of discrimination

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@hmarston4 Looks like Indonesia will invite MAH soon. Prabowo’s foreign policy is unlike the previous government’s. When Anutin went to Jakarta to get his blessing for MAH’s Bangkok the Thais knew Indonesia would fall into line. Singapore is the only real holdout on upholding5pt consensus

[Hunter Marston @hmarston4]

Did not see #Malaysia being the one to champion #Myanmar's reintegration into ASEAN. A few months ago, interlocutors from 🇲🇾 Ministry of Foreign Affairs told me KL was the "only" ASEAN state holding the line against that outcome, so this is a big reversal. https://t.co/0Wineg4LWl

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@azrulmohdkhalib @mpklang @anwaribrahim Like the Thais @anwaribrahim argues that with MAH entrenched in power there must be some form of engagement. But MAH has refused for 5 years to honour his promise under ASEAN 5pt deal to negotiate for peace. These visits give him valuable recognition, but he won’t give much back

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@azrulmohdkhalib @mpklang @anwaribrahim Agree with this. This entire gambit, bringing a pariah leader to Malaysia, was to give the illusion of something being done about the Rohingya refugee problem, with no expectation that any would be sent back.

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

Our understanding is that there was an agreement between the Malaysian and Myanmar side not even to mention Rohingyas - a term Myanmar does not recognise.

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

At his press conference with @anwaribrahim in KL Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar would only take back those with verified citizenship. This means no Rohingyas will be going back under this agreement, despite Anwar saying this visit was meant to deal with the Rohingya refugee problem

[Poppy McPherson @poppymcp]

Min Aung Hlaing, accused of genocide and war crimes, gets the red carpet treatment in another SE Asian capital. After the coup his troops shot protesters, including children, in the head and publicised it. They’ve since bombed and killed 1000s, per the UN. https://t.co/orwd8RO6QK

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

We still have seats to watch this remarkable documentary @FCCThai this evening Made in Ethiopia https://t.co/E7R6DUqoUr

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@MyanmarAProject Fair point Chris but I’d be amazed if any Rohingyas are ever sent back to Myanmar. There is nowhere for them to go - the regime is not going to end its ban on them living outside Rakhine. Anwar’s dance with MAH is to show Malaysians he’s doing something about the Rohingya issue.

[The Lowy Institute @LowyInstitute]

ASEAN has built numerous institutions to handle regional emergencies, but it cannot coordinate them well enough to respond when a crisis hits, according to a new @LowyInstitute report by @hmarston4.
https://t.co/2ueBwsmEQ5

[Saksith Saiyasombut | ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ไสยสมบัติ @SaksithCNA]

The problem isn't whether the money is clean or not. The problem is handing out cash like that reinforces a paternalistic lord-of-the-manor style of rule that is prevalent in Thai politics. That and the more universal attitude that money fixes everything.

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

This is pretty special - amazing access, powerful, human interactions. If you are in Bangkok on Monday evening by don’t miss it m https://t.co/E7R6DUqoUr

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@Lookin_Exotic Er yes I think we all know that. But other airlines were unaffected as were other ground handling companies at Suvarnabhumi. Why was Thai so unable to cope?

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

What on earth happened to Thai Airways? Multiple domestic and overseas flights have been cancelled. The recent floods seem to be the cause, but other airlines were unaffected.

[Thenationthailand @Thenationth]

Thai Airways is facing fierce criticism after severe ground-handling failures left thousands of passengers stranded for hours at Suvarnabhumi Airport with zero communication.

Reports reveal the flag carrier prioritised partner airlines to dodge fines—leaving its own passengers abandoned.

#ThaiAirways #Baggage #Airlines #Passengers #SuvarnabhumiAirport #Bangkok #TheNationThailand

Read more : https://t.co/a3pLT5Hbym

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

Aside from the human rights issues around this repatriation it’s hard to imagine where any Rohingyas would be sent in Myanmar. They aren’t recognised as citizens and are only allowed to live in Rakhine State, a war zone mostly controlled by Arakan Army https://t.co/3vjXldKQh8

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

@CurtisSChin @fishmyman @lekmonchai @ChannelNewsAsia @FCCThai Yes they’d hope the rain would move on today but there’s been more. Water levels down in some areas but many are still flooded.

[Jonathan Head @pakhead]

Calling all Holmes fans in Bangkok - unmissable one-man performance this evening Sherlock Holmes, My Friend by Dr. John Watson https://t.co/y0JozuNVPX