BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) - Thailand on Friday proposed to host a workshop aimed at finding ways among the region's countries to prevent a continue influx of illegal Rohingya immigrants in large numbers as has been happening in recent months, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman.
The move came after human rights groups and some survivors accused the Thai navy of forcing almost 1,000 Rohingyas back into the Andaman Sea on a boat with no engine and limited food and water supplies last month. Top military commanders have denied mistreating any of the Rohingyas.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat told journalists after permanent secretary for Foreign Affairs Veerasak Footrakul met Friday with the ambassadors of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and the charge d'affaires of Myanmar on the problem of illegal Rohingya migrants fleeing Myanmar by boat in large numbers recently.
Most of the migrants do not intend to stay in Thailand, as they are Muslim and prefer to stay in Islamic countries, Mr. Tharit quoted Mr. Veerasak as saying.
About 20,000 Rohingyas are now in Thailand illegally, many had been helped by Thai human traffickers in cooperation with international syndicates, Mr. Veerasak told envoys at the meeting.
In an attempt to solve the problem on a long-term basis, as well as exchanging information among countries in the region on Rohingya boat people, Mr. Veerasak told the envoys that the Thai government is prepared to host such a workshop in Bangkok.
The envoys said they would propose the idea to their governments for consideration.
Although no representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was invited to the meeting, it is expected that the agency will be asked in future to act as coordinator in providing help to the boat people to stay in a specified area, Mr. Tharit said. (TNA)
Political News : Last Update : 19:07:41 23 January 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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