Thai DPM:Rohingya ethnics are to be considered as illegal migrants

BANGKOK, January 19 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says that Rohingya ethnics from Myanmar fleeing to Thailand are to be considered as illegal migrants and are to be dealt with the Thai laws. Speaking during the weekly TV and radio programme of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra this morning, Surapong told the public that his ministry had discussed the issue with the National Security Council (NSC) and both sides agreed that the Thai government needs to consider Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar’s Rakhine State illegal migrants who are to be dealt with the Thai laws. Surapong acknowledged it has been initially agreed that concerned Thai government agencies will spend their own budget in assisting the Rohingya migrants; while, in long-term, the Thai government will discuss with international bodies to ask for their assistance. According to the deputy premier, the Thai government, however, does not have any plan to immediately deport the Rohingya ethnics and Premier Yingluck has ordered every government agency to provide assistance to them on humanitarian grounds. Meanwhile, police in Songkhla province in the Thai South plan to refurbish deserted houses in Bang Klam Sub-district to allow 20 Rohingya migrants to stay temporarily, all of them are now staying at police cells. Thailand’s Islamic spiritual leader Chularatchamontri Aziz Pitakkumpon has, meanwhile, asked Songkhla's Islamic Committee to help repair the abandoned houses, where the Rohingya migrants can temporarily stay. (TNA)