OIC envoys to visit Rohingya migrants in Thai South

BANGKOK, January 30 (TNA) - Officials of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will bring envoys of 15 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to visit Rohingya Muslims and to inspect the situation in the Thai far South on January 31. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists on Wednesday that the Thai government has initially agreed to provide shelter to the illegal Rohingya migrants from neighbouring Myanmar for six months. Surapong acknowledged that there are some 1,300 illegal Rohingya immigrants in southern Thailand and their aid costs the Thai government 75 baht per person per day, noting that male Rohingya immigrants have stayed at local immigration police offices while women and children have taken shelter at women and children's homes under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Surapong said that he has asked the Myanmar foreign minister to receive the ethnic Rohingya Muslims back and guarantee their safety and has also ordered the Thai permanent secretary for foreing affairs to, on the other hand, seek assistance from international human rights organizations for the Rohingya migrants, including their trips to third countries. According to the Thai deputy premier, the OIC diplomats are also scheduled to visit the violence-plagued southernmost Thai region to inspect the updated situation and to share their opinions on solutions in the troubled Thai deep South. (TNA)