Thailand not to set up centres for illegal migrants, says official

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) - Thailand’s Deputy Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd has reiterated that his government has no policy to set up centres for illegal migrants but pointed to benefits of having temporary holding areas to provide humanitarian assistance before the migrants continue journeying to their destination. Major General Sansern said Thailand had looked after illegal migrants, based on humanitarian principles but does not have a policy to allow them to settle down in the country. Illegal immigrants would normally be detained and repatriated or sent to a third country on voluntary basis. He said the idea, proposed by some organisations for Thailand to allow Rohingya asylum seekers to stay in Thailand and provide them with jobs, would not be considered and could violate Thai law. The deputy government spokesman said it was necessary to set up temporary holding areas in order to facilitate the work of the Immigration Bureau while legal procedures are underway, and to provide health care and sanitation services along with useful information for the illegal migrants in parallel with investigations into information regarding human trafficking networks. But to solve the root cause, he said, international relief organisations should look after them in the country of origin and stop them from fleeing to other countries. Thailand is hosting a regional meeting on the flow of migrants through the Bay of Bengal on May 29. Senior officials from 15 countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Australia are invited to attend the meeting. Representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration will also participate. (TNA)