Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has described the current migrant crisis a problem for the entire Southeast Asian region.
She made the statement on May 19 ahead of a key regional meeting with her counterparts from Thailand and Malaysia – which, together with Indonesia, are facing increasing pressures to let the marine refugees land.
The meeting is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on May 20.
She noted that Indonesia has hosted nearly 12,000 migrants from over 40 countries awaiting resettlement.
Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention that would oblige it to resettle a certain number of refugees.
Nearly 3,000 migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar’s ethnic Rohingya community have reached the shore in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in recent days after Thailand cracked down on a human-trafficking ring.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at least 2,000 other migrants are supposed to be adrift on waters off Indonesia , Thailand and Malaysia without food and drink.
The Myanmar Government on May 19 pledged to collaborate with regional and international partners to address the boat migrant crisis.
The same day, the Philippines Government said it is willing to assist Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey will send a military ship to back the rescue efforts.
On May 29, Thailand will organise a conference on boat migrant crisis, with the participation of 15 countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and the US.-VNA
She made the statement on May 19 ahead of a key regional meeting with her counterparts from Thailand and Malaysia – which, together with Indonesia, are facing increasing pressures to let the marine refugees land.
The meeting is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on May 20.
She noted that Indonesia has hosted nearly 12,000 migrants from over 40 countries awaiting resettlement.
Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention that would oblige it to resettle a certain number of refugees.
Nearly 3,000 migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar’s ethnic Rohingya community have reached the shore in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in recent days after Thailand cracked down on a human-trafficking ring.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at least 2,000 other migrants are supposed to be adrift on waters off Indonesia , Thailand and Malaysia without food and drink.
The Myanmar Government on May 19 pledged to collaborate with regional and international partners to address the boat migrant crisis.
The same day, the Philippines Government said it is willing to assist Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey will send a military ship to back the rescue efforts.
On May 29, Thailand will organise a conference on boat migrant crisis, with the participation of 15 countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and the US.-VNA
