U.S. to join Bangkok regional meeting on Rohingya on May 29

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) - U.S. representatives will attend a regional meeting in Thailand later this month to find an urgent solution to the unfolding "humanitarian catastrophe" involving a wave of people fleeing on boats to Southeast Asia, thousands of whom are ethnic Rohingya escaping oppression. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has released a statement saying it will continue its humanitarian tradition in helping the refugees whom have entered its territorial waters. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry phoned his Thai counterpart Friday last week, confirming the U.S. government would take part in the May 29 Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean in Bangkok. The Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman added that Kerry had underscored U.S. interest to participate and share intelligence, recommendations and support, hoping that the regional meeting would come up with measures to end the influx of Rohingya and Bangladeshi boat people. However, Thailand’s Foreign Minister General Tanasak Pattimapragorn was quoted as having said earlier that the kingdom’s policy would not involve providing refugee camps for the Rohingya migrants due to concerns that illegal migrants wishing to enter Thailand would exploit the system. Yet, General Tanasak had reiterated the Thai position on assisting migrants with humanitarian standards. He said he had pinned hopes that the upcoming special meeting would bring together senior officials, including Myanmar and Bangladesh, and international organisations to find measures to stamp out the problem based on mutual cooperation and humanitarian values. The Thai Foreign Minister also spoke further about the issue of a Rohingya boat recently intercepted off the Thai coast in Satun Province by the Navy, saying the migrants were reportedly on their journey to seek refuge in another country, so Thai authorities provided them with food and water supplies and refueled their vessel for the course. (TNA)