Thailand starts air search for stranded migrants

[webfact]

Thailand starts air search for stranded migrants
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand said Tuesday it had begun air reconnaissance missions looking for stranded migrant boats in the Andaman Sea, following criticism that regional nations were not actively searching for stricken vessels.

Thousands of Bangladeshi and Myanmar boat people are still believed to be stranded in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea after a recent crackdown on people smuggling in southern Thailand prompted traffickers to abandon their ships or hide in international waters.

Thailand is hosting a May 29 regional meeting on a crisis that has seen more than 3,500 Bangladeshi economic migrants and stateless Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar arrive on Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian soil.

There have been reports of bodies being thrown overboard and people dying at sea, but the number of migrants who have died during the crisis is not known.

All three countries, as well as Myanmar and Bangladesh, have come under international pressure to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the migrants and address the root causes of the crisis.

The head of Thailand's airforce Tuesday said planes had begun flying up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from Thai territory and would concentrate their search on the waters off the country's southwestern shoreline.

"We have prepared eight aircraft from two units," Air Chief Marshal Jom Rungsawang told reporters.

"We will work in close cooperation with (ground and sea) stations along the route that is used by migrant boats," he added.

Thailand's announcement came as the United States confirmed it had begun running reconnaissance flights off the western coast of Malaysia.

"The flights are consistent with our offer to assist governments in the region to improve their understanding of the situation in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal," Melissa Sweeney, US embassy spokeswoman in Bangkok, told AFP.

Both the US and Thai flights appear to be concentrating on the Andaman Sea.

But the UN estimates around 2,000 migrants are still trapped farther north in the Bay of Bengal on vessels controlled by people smugglers who were put off making the journey southeast but have refused to release their victims unless relatives pay a ransom.

The US has offered to launch reconnaissance flights over the Bay of Bengal and said it was "actively engaging" with local governments for permission.

Thailand has insisted that any US involvement in such flights would need to be under their command. General Worapong Sangnetra, Chief of Thailand's Defence Forces, said a US request to use their bases for flights was "under consideration".

Thailand has deployed a helicopter carrier to serve as a temporary medical and processing centre for migrants found adrift. But unlike Malaysia and Indonesia, it has refused to offer migrant's refuge, saying any who land on its shores will be treated as illegal immigrants.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-26

[brabo2180]

"Thailand has insisted that any US involvement in such flights would need to be under their command"

Whahahahaha!!! That will be the day!!!

[Robby nz]

Whatever happened to the spy satellites that are supposed to be able to see the fleas in a terrorists beard, can they not be pointed in this direction ?

Would save a lot of speculation and flying around, but then I suppose someone would have to admit that they could.

[Strangebrew]

And you think there Not pointed and know where most of the boats are There waiting to see how Thai's conduct there search then show them how to do it the right way.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Thailand has deployed a helicopter carrier.......

At last, the truth is out, they have more than one.....

[jollyhangmon]

Thailand has deployed a helicopter carrier.......

At last, the truth is out, they have more than one.....

... may well be the case but running out of choppers to carry if i recall related news of the last 2 or 3 years ...

[Oziex1]

Whatever happened to the spy satellites that are supposed to be able to see the fleas in a terrorists beard, can they not be pointed in this direction ?

Would save a lot of speculation and flying around, but then I suppose someone would have to admit that they could.

Would be good but a few asian refugees are insignificant in comparison to watching Russia, ISIS and of course their own people.

[Oziex1]

So the Thais are now searching. weeks after this story broke. A rescue mission or the location of the deceased?

The good old USA has to do it again, as an Aussie I like to bash the Yanks but they help a lot.

Good on them for going out to check on Chinese activity, opps I mean refugee boats.

[oneday]

"...Thailand has insisted that any US involvement in such flights would need to be under their command..."

WE WANT...

[halloween]

What I see is a modern day version of a Gold Rush, where people are prepared to take great risks for the perceived chance of (relatively) great wealth. There is a need to stop the rush, and offering assistance, and hence reducing the risks is not going to achieve that. A few measures that might:

1/ Equate people smuggling with piracy with immediate execution of smugglers and crew as identified by the passengers.

2/ Removal of passengers and sinking of boats.

3/ Return of passengers to approximate point of embarkation. If the country of origin doesn't like it, make it plain force will be used.

4/ Charging, prosecution and deportation of those who make it.

5/ Use all means possible to encourage countries with conflict areas to resolve issues. Martial law works.

[FangFerang]

Whatever happened to the spy satellites that are supposed to be able to see the fleas in a terrorists beard, can they not be pointed in this direction ?

Would save a lot of speculation and flying around, but then I suppose someone would have to admit that they could.

I think the satellites already mapped out the boats, but it is undiplomatic to tell an ally you are spying on them. Further, the Thais are meticulously making certain that no HiSos can be prosecuted from this mess, nor the companies that own the boats, nor the companies that buy their illegal products....

It's an eminance front. It's an eminance front - it's a put on. .... Come and join the party dressed to kill.....