Thailand ready to help origin countries tackle illegal migration: Tanasak

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thailand ready to help origin countries tackle illegal migration: Tanasak
JINTANA PANYAARVUDH
THE NATION


Tanasak Patimapragorn

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT is ready to discuss and help tackle the long-standing problem of illegal migrants at the countries of origin, Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn said.

"Thailand is ready to help the origin countries. We can hold discussions with them regarding their problems. We are ready to send units to help both Malaysia and Bangladesh develop sustainable economies to tackle the problem," Tanasak said in an exclusive interview with The Nation yesterday.

However, he said Thailand now needs to tell the world that we are just a transit point and we are neither the point of origin nor the destination though some officials in Thailand may be involved in the trafficking.

As a long-term measure to tackle the issue of illegal migrants, especially Rohingya, the foreign minister said first of all the countries of origin need to ensure their people are happy with their lives, then they wouldn't need to migrate to other countries.

However, he said the current migration problem will end as soon as the monsoon starts in June when they will stop travelling.

Regarding the government considering setting up temporary shelters to house Rohingya and other illegal migrants in Thailand, Tanasak said the ministry is ready to cooperate with international organisations if the shelters were set up.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday said the issue is being discussed by government legal experts, as it would have many consequences, including those affecting our national security.

However, Tanasak said Thailand will label those who are in Thailand as illegal migrants.

Meanwhile, Thailand will host a special regional meeting on May 29 on how to tackle illegal migrants.

The one-day "Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean" is an urgent call for the region to comprehensively work together to address the unprecedented increase in irregular migration across the Bay of Bengal in recent years, Tanasak said.

The increasing complexity of the problem demands a multi-faceted approach. The countries of origin, transit and destination must work together to address the problem comprehensively by addressing the root causes as well as all the contributing factors along the way, the ministry's statement said.

The one-day special meeting will be attended by senior officials from 15 affected countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh - and the United States.

Observers from the United Nations High Com-mission for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration, Office on Drugs and Crime, and other organisations have also been invited.

The meeting will build on the progress of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crimes, the statement said.

It will also follow up on the existing work done on this issue, particularly at the Special Ministerial Conference on Irregular Movement of Persons, in Jakarta in 2013.

The meeting, to be chaired by Norachit Sinhaseni, permanent secretary at the Foreign Ministry, would provide a forum for exchange of information and intelligence on the current situation on irregular migration by sea and its challenges, as well as to demonstrate their strong commitment to strengthen cooperation and foster more concrete actions.

Such actions may include, among other things, cooperation on information and intelligence sharing as well as coordination in law enforcement to dismantle transnational criminal networks, and collective information campaign at countries of origin, transit, and destination to promote awareness and prevent exploitation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thailand-ready-to-help-origin-countries-tackle-ill-30260045.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-14

[Praematura]

Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand turning these boats away. I don't really see another place these boats will float too. Maybe if they float around long enough in the Indian Ocean they will find that missing Malaysian airliner.[emoji6]

[Lupatria]

How? By exporting their successful strategy to tackle the problems with minorities in the deep south?

Edited May 14, 2015 by Lupatria

[Thaddeus]

THE GOVERNMENT is ready to discuss and help tackle the long-standing problem of illegal migrants at the countries of origin, Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn said.

Ready to discuss of course is correct, loudly and at great length, that's what suits do, they have even been known to mull.

Ready to help? let's wait and see.

[DM07]

This is not even worth commenting!

Thailand helping others with their problems!

Sure!

[clockman]

They only know about helping themselves! Lovely Buddhists.

[Orac]

'Indian Ocean', 'Bay of Bengal', 'Bangladesh and Malaysia' - there appears to be an elephant in this room!

[NongKhaiKid]

Quick, quick the international spotlight's on us again so say something and try to sound sincere.

[FloridaExport]

However, he said Thailand now needs to tell the world that we are just a transit point and we are neither the point of origin nor the destination though some officials in Thailand may be involved in the trafficking.

As a long-term measure to tackle the issue of illegal migrants, especially Rohingya, the foreign minister said first of all the countries of origin need to ensure their people are happy with their lives, then they wouldn't need to migrate to other countries.

There it is. That's the attitude that keeps these atrocities going.

[Oziex1]

The PM was ready to act decisively the other day, is this it?

[Strangebrew]

Quick need to get blame pointed elsewhere. Don't want them to figure out how we get crews for our fishing fleets. I wonder if TAT uses these illegals on there tourist stats? Nah Thai's don't do that.

[Srikcir]

Wouldn't it be more humanitarian to help DESTINATION countries tackle the problem? This is now what the EU is finally doing. You're not going to sove the problems that cause illegal immigration FROM a country. You'd solve all the fundamental problems of that society that has motivated illegal exodus.

All Tanasak's approach is going to accomplish is further repression of these illegal immigrants within their country of origin.

[RigPig]

¨Thailand now needs to tell the world that we are just a transit point and we are neither the point of origin nor the destination¨

May 29th "Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean"

Thailand, opening meeting statement

¨Myanmar this is all your fault for letting them out, Malaysia, you are to blame for not letting them in. If you did there would be no problem. Due to International circumstances we can no longer assist you. When you two have worked out how you are going to fix it let us know so we can show the world what a great place Thailand is and that we were only trying to help¨