A group of Rohingya refugees who were beaten and burned by Myanmar soldiers as they tried to flee on boats to Thailand are facing likely deportation back to Myanmar. The 78 refugees were intercepted earlier this week by Thai authorities, who have themselves faced accusations of abusing Rohingya boat people in recent days.
One man who gave his name as Sutamin said he was taken onto a military vessel, where soldiers wrapped a cloth around a wooden stick, doused it in kerosene, ignited it and held it to his skin. "I got beaten. Everybody got beaten," he said. "But not a normal beating - this was very hard. I was tortured."He said the soldiers had also tied a noose around his neck and threatened to strangle him.
On Wednesday 66 members of the group appeared in court in the town of Ranong in southern Thailand to hear charges of illegally entering the country. They were not represented by lawyers and will not have an opportunity to defend themselves.The remaining members of the group were minors too young to appear in court.
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