PM:Thailand assists Rohingya migrants based on humanitarian principle

BANGKOK, May 26 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has reiterated Thailand's stance on providing assistance to Rohingya migrants based on the humanitarian principle and is ready to play the role of facilitator to send them to their final destinations. Prime Minister General Prayut confirmed on the stance on Tuesday, saying even though Thailand is a mid-way or transit point of Rohingya migrants and faces difficulties in addressing Rohingya-related issues, the Thai Kingdom sees importance of all lives. The prime minister stressed that Thailand provides primary assistance to Rohingya migrants, namely taking care of those sick before sending them to their final destinations, including Malaysia and Indonesia, which have announced to provide shelters to the migrants. The prime minister made it clear illegal migrants who were brought on shore for primary assistance would be first prosecuted for illegal entry into Thailand before being sent to the third countries. According to the prime minister, Thailand welcomes the United States' support in jointly assisting Rohingya migrants entering the Thai territory based on the Thai supervisory framework. The prime minister reaffirmed that Thailand has never threatened or used weapons against Rohingya migrants. The prime minister revealed that he has assigned the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force to conduct regular patrols on the Thai marine territory and to deploy large ships to provide initial assistance to Rohingya migrants whose boats found floating on the Thai waters so that it would not be necessary to take them on shore. The Thai leader noted, however, that there have been no reports on Rohingya boats found floating on the Thai waters lately. (TNA)