Thailand satisfied with outcome of int'l meeting on irregular migration

BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) - Thailand is satisfied with the May 29 international meeting on irregular migration in the Indian Ocean, focused on solutions to Rohingya-related problems. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn expressed the satisfaction on Saturday (May 30), noting that three measures were adopted at the meeting, including saving life, eradicating the problems and solving issues related to the irregular migration at root causes. General Tanasak said the one-day meeting resolved that the agreed measures will be implemented on a continual basis in the short, medium and long-terms so that the problems related to irregular migration will be eradicated on a sustainable basis. According to the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Thailand confirmed at Friday's (May 29) meeting to treat Rohingya migrants based on the humanitarian basis. The deputy prime minister and foreign minister acknowledged that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has ordered relevant agencies to prepare large ships, equipped with interrogators and life saving equipment, to assist the migrants at sea before sending them to Indonesia and Malaysia, which have announced to provide shelters for them, while the United States has already been given the green light to conduct joint reconnaissance flights with Thailand. The deputy prime minister and foreign minister revealed that participants at Friday's (May 29) meeting were informed what the Thai government has done to assist the migrants at sea and they were satisfied that the Thai government organised the meeting at an appropriate time. A total of 17 countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as three international organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOD) participated in Friday's meeting, plus the United States, Switzerland and Japan as observers. Meanwhile, the Thai prime minister told the public during his weekly programme on Friday (May 29) night that the one-day meeting was organised systematically and its objectives were to help resolve the problems and avoid international conflicts among countries in the region. The Thai prime minister stressed that solving the Rohingya-related problems is the “responsibility” of every country and related international organisations, suggesting that assistance measures be specified clearly. The Thai leader insisted that Thailand is only a transit route for the Rohingya migrants. (TNA)