ID :
45094
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 17:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/45094
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RI, THAILAND TO SOLVE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM THROUGH 'BALI PROCESS'
Jakarta, Feb 11 (ANTARA) - Visiting Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thailand had accepted an Indonesian proposal to solve the Rohingya boat people problem through the "Bali Process" -- a ministerial forum to discuss boat people and human trafficking issues.
Thailand had also promised to disclose as soon as possible the results of its investigation into reports alleging Thai authorities had tortured Rohingya boat people, Kasit told the press after a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirayuda, here on Wednesday.
"We are going to renew the Bali process. So we, the countries concerned and international oganizations like UNHCR, have to work together in that context. We should pick up from where we left it and tackle this problem in a very coordinative manner," Kasit said.
Wirayuda on the occasion confirmed Thailand and Indonesia would solve the Rohingya boat people problem through the Bali Process which required the involvement of the refugees' country of origin, transit country, and destination country.
"We will match our schedules, but through the Bali Process, we hope we will be able to find the best possible solution to the presence of Rohingya boat people in Indonesia," Wirayuda said.
To a journalist's question about reports that Thai soldiers had tortured Rohingya people, the Thai foreign minister said his government was trying to verify the truth of the reports.
"It is being investigated but so far we have been given assurances by the Thai Navy that nothing of that sort has happened. Secondly, the investigation is being done by two bodies, namely the government, and our human rights commission. They are conducting the investigation. And we will disclose h the result as soon as possible," Kasit said.
The Thai foreign minister indicated the boat people issue would probably also be discussed at the ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand later this month.
"Perhaps , it will be taken up on the summit's sidelines. But I think, since we have the Bali Process, we move the formality of that process. We hope to have the meeting to be held in late March or in April... as soon as possible," Kasit said.
Thailand had also promised to disclose as soon as possible the results of its investigation into reports alleging Thai authorities had tortured Rohingya boat people, Kasit told the press after a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirayuda, here on Wednesday.
"We are going to renew the Bali process. So we, the countries concerned and international oganizations like UNHCR, have to work together in that context. We should pick up from where we left it and tackle this problem in a very coordinative manner," Kasit said.
Wirayuda on the occasion confirmed Thailand and Indonesia would solve the Rohingya boat people problem through the Bali Process which required the involvement of the refugees' country of origin, transit country, and destination country.
"We will match our schedules, but through the Bali Process, we hope we will be able to find the best possible solution to the presence of Rohingya boat people in Indonesia," Wirayuda said.
To a journalist's question about reports that Thai soldiers had tortured Rohingya people, the Thai foreign minister said his government was trying to verify the truth of the reports.
"It is being investigated but so far we have been given assurances by the Thai Navy that nothing of that sort has happened. Secondly, the investigation is being done by two bodies, namely the government, and our human rights commission. They are conducting the investigation. And we will disclose h the result as soon as possible," Kasit said.
The Thai foreign minister indicated the boat people issue would probably also be discussed at the ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand later this month.
"Perhaps , it will be taken up on the summit's sidelines. But I think, since we have the Bali Process, we move the formality of that process. We hope to have the meeting to be held in late March or in April... as soon as possible," Kasit said.
