Published on 12:58 PM, May 22, 2015

EU urges Myanmar, Thailand to take action over Rohingya

Myanmar migrants and Rohingya Muslims are escorted by Thai police as they are charged in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on March 30, 2015. File photo: AFP

European Union lawmakers are calling on Myanmar to end the persecution of Rohingya Muslims and for Thailand to launch investigations into reports of mass graves of the Muslim minority.

In a resolution Thursday, the lawmakers also called for the Thai government and officials to "end any complicity with the criminal gangs trafficking Rohingya people and other migrants in Thailand."

The UN says the Rohingya are one of the most persecuted groups in the world. Neither Myanmar nor Bangladesh recognises them as citizens and they have faced increasing discrimination.

Thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshis have fled by boat, and many are believed to be trapped aboard them with little food or water.

The lawmakers demanded that senior EU officials raise the issue with the Thai and Myanmar governments.