Thailand probing reports

The Thai government is investigating and verifying all the facts and circumstances relating to the recent news reports on 'illegal migrants' found in the Andaman Sea, said Thai ambassador in Dhaka Chalermpol Thanchitt in a media release yesterday.

The clarification came following the media reports that 400 migrants were held in Thailand and Thai troops forced them out to sea in boats with no engine and no food.

Thailand's navy, however, later denied their involvement in the abuse of the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

On December 28, Indian coast guard rescued over 100 migrants when they tried to swim ashore the Andaman Islands from a drifting boat in the Indian sea. The rest of the 400 migrants were feared dead.

To clarify the issue, Thanchitt said “Thailand has always committed to maintaining its traditional adherence to humanitarian principles and the protection of human rights in employing measures to protect its borders at sea from various illegal activities, including illegal migration, in accordance with its immigration laws.”

He said Thai authorities concerned would reassess the overall situation of illegal immigrants, taking into consideration relevant developments, including in the policy, due to the increasing urgency of this issue and the increasing size of the problem.

“We will also coordinate closely with the countries concerned and will also consider raising this issue in such fora as BIMSTEC,” he said.

Thailand has always supported bilateral, regional and international cooperation to combat people smuggling and human trafficking, whether at sea or on land, the ambassador said and added that this must necessarily engage countries of origin, transit and destination.