Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to address the "root causes" of thecurrent migrant crisis at a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 29.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the day-longmeeting was constructive and all 17 participating countries agreed on astatement to provide humanitarian aid to 2,500 migrants believed tostill be adrift at sea, as well as to the 3,500 who have already landedin Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia since May 1.
The countries also committed to addressing the "root causes" and"factors in areas of (migrants') origin", including improving theeconomy, human rights and security in the source countries.
They suggested the increase of search and rescue activities to ensuresafety for migrants at sea as well as the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees and the International Oragnisation forMigration’s access to migrants.
They said it isneeded to enhance law enforcement to tackle human trafficking,cooperation in eradicating transnational crime rings, and laws and safemigration channels appropriate to relevant countries to prevent illegalmigration.
Delegates consented to maintaindiscussions and raise the issue at related meetings, including bilateralconsultations, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime,and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons andRelated Transnational Crime.
Also on May 29, Myanmar’s navy seized a boat packed with 727 people off the country's southern coast.
The majority of some 3,000 illegal migrants found in the past fewweeks were Rohingya people from Myanmar and Bangladeshi nationals.-VNA
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the day-longmeeting was constructive and all 17 participating countries agreed on astatement to provide humanitarian aid to 2,500 migrants believed tostill be adrift at sea, as well as to the 3,500 who have already landedin Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia since May 1.
The countries also committed to addressing the "root causes" and"factors in areas of (migrants') origin", including improving theeconomy, human rights and security in the source countries.
They suggested the increase of search and rescue activities to ensuresafety for migrants at sea as well as the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees and the International Oragnisation forMigration’s access to migrants.
They said it isneeded to enhance law enforcement to tackle human trafficking,cooperation in eradicating transnational crime rings, and laws and safemigration channels appropriate to relevant countries to prevent illegalmigration.
Delegates consented to maintaindiscussions and raise the issue at related meetings, including bilateralconsultations, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime,and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons andRelated Transnational Crime.
Also on May 29, Myanmar’s navy seized a boat packed with 727 people off the country's southern coast.
The majority of some 3,000 illegal migrants found in the past fewweeks were Rohingya people from Myanmar and Bangladeshi nationals.-VNA
