BANGKOK: On 20 May 2015, General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand visited Putrajaya, Malaysia upon the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia to discuss with both Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and Indonesia on the issue of irregular movement of people in the region.
The meeting urged for a comprehensive solution and concerted efforts in addressing the unprecedented increase of irregular migration in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the situation demands an immediate response for protection of irregular migrants at sea on the basis of international burden sharing and in accordance with their respective domestic laws.
The Foreign Ministers also underlined the need for medium- term and long-term sustainable solutions.
Countries of origin, transit, and destination as well as the international community must work collectively to solve this problem which should not be left to any country alone.
The meeting fully agreed with Thailand that relevant countries must express their strong commitment to work together and with other relevant parties to rid the region of people smugglers and human traffickers and to prevent irregular migration flows.
This could be done by, among other things, creating and strengthening the network of law enforcement officers, increasing communication with people on the ground and promoting development at countries of origin.
They urged not only the countries involved in the region, but also the international community to share more responsibility in this endeavor.
Thailand attached great importance to humanitarian assistance and will not push back migrants stranded in the Thai territorial water.
To explore possible cooperation from relevant countries and international organisations, Thailand will hold the Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean on May 29, 2015 in Bangkok.
The meeting will be attended by 17 countries, two observers and three international organisations.
It will provide a forum for relevant parties to constructively discuss and to demonstrate their strong commitment to strengthen cooperation in seriously preventing and solving the problem of irregular migration in the region in a concrete and sustainable manner.
Earlier, the following release came from Myanmar (Burma):
Myanmar's view and efforts on Migrants and Boat People
1. Recently, there have been reports by the international media on migrants and boat people in the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca. In this connection, Myanmar shares concerns expressed by the international community, and is closely following the news.
2. Myanmar deeply concerns with the sufferings and life-threatening fate of innocent people as the consequences of human smuggling and illegal migration in the region.
3. Against this backdrop, Myanmar is making serious efforts on the prevention of smuggling and illegal migration. One such activity is the regular patrolling in Myanmar territorial water by the Myanmar Navy and Air Force to deter any illegal trespassing in the territory and to provide safety for the trespassers, if any, in the sea. Myanmar stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance to anyone who suffered in the sea.
4. Preventive measures on human smuggling and illegal migration are being implemented throughout the nation. Likewise, the Rakhine State Government and concerned departments are endeavoring diligently to prevent illegal migration by sea. Measures are also in place to maintain rule of law and security for all individuals there.
5. Myanmar has been extending its full cooperation with countries in the region in regional mechanisms including the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. Myanmar is fully prepared to work with the international community, on humanitarian ground, to alleviate the sufferings of the smuggled victims.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The meeting urged for a comprehensive solution and concerted efforts in addressing the unprecedented increase of irregular migration in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the situation demands an immediate response for protection of irregular migrants at sea on the basis of international burden sharing and in accordance with their respective domestic laws.
The Foreign Ministers also underlined the need for medium- term and long-term sustainable solutions.
Countries of origin, transit, and destination as well as the international community must work collectively to solve this problem which should not be left to any country alone.
The meeting fully agreed with Thailand that relevant countries must express their strong commitment to work together and with other relevant parties to rid the region of people smugglers and human traffickers and to prevent irregular migration flows.
This could be done by, among other things, creating and strengthening the network of law enforcement officers, increasing communication with people on the ground and promoting development at countries of origin.
They urged not only the countries involved in the region, but also the international community to share more responsibility in this endeavor.
Thailand attached great importance to humanitarian assistance and will not push back migrants stranded in the Thai territorial water.
To explore possible cooperation from relevant countries and international organisations, Thailand will hold the Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean on May 29, 2015 in Bangkok.
The meeting will be attended by 17 countries, two observers and three international organisations.
It will provide a forum for relevant parties to constructively discuss and to demonstrate their strong commitment to strengthen cooperation in seriously preventing and solving the problem of irregular migration in the region in a concrete and sustainable manner.
Earlier, the following release came from Myanmar (Burma):
Myanmar's view and efforts on Migrants and Boat People
1. Recently, there have been reports by the international media on migrants and boat people in the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca. In this connection, Myanmar shares concerns expressed by the international community, and is closely following the news.
2. Myanmar deeply concerns with the sufferings and life-threatening fate of innocent people as the consequences of human smuggling and illegal migration in the region.
3. Against this backdrop, Myanmar is making serious efforts on the prevention of smuggling and illegal migration. One such activity is the regular patrolling in Myanmar territorial water by the Myanmar Navy and Air Force to deter any illegal trespassing in the territory and to provide safety for the trespassers, if any, in the sea. Myanmar stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance to anyone who suffered in the sea.
4. Preventive measures on human smuggling and illegal migration are being implemented throughout the nation. Likewise, the Rakhine State Government and concerned departments are endeavoring diligently to prevent illegal migration by sea. Measures are also in place to maintain rule of law and security for all individuals there.
5. Myanmar has been extending its full cooperation with countries in the region in regional mechanisms including the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. Myanmar is fully prepared to work with the international community, on humanitarian ground, to alleviate the sufferings of the smuggled victims.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
It is good to read that ASEAN countries start up to give boat people a helping hand. Let's hope Bangladesh and Myanmar can be persuaded to stop people to start the miserable sea trips of death. The boat people flow has to stop. If not than the helping ASEAN countries can be expected to end giving a helping hand.
Posted by Kurt on May 21, 2015 06:21