Abhisit Visits Indonisia to Discuss Rohingya Migrants

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has left for Indonesia to discuss issues including the treatment of Muslim boat people from Burma allegedly towed out to sea by Thai authorities.

Thailand has faced criticism over claims that its security forces abused migrants from the Rohingya minority, hundreds of whom have been rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters in recent weeks.

"During this trip we will discuss the Rohingya," Mr Abhisit told reporters before leaving for the two-day visit to Jakarta.

"Indonesia has also agreed to use this Asean meeting as a stage to discuss Rohingyas and human trafficking," he said, referring to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit starting in Thailand on February 27.

Mr Abhisit said he would also discuss cooperation over trade and fishing, and seek support from Indonesia to "create understanding" about Thailand's efforts to combat an insurgency in its Muslim-majority south.

The claims about Bangkok's mistreatment of the Rohingyas, scores of whom rights groups fear may have perished after being pushed out to sea from Thailand, have caused tensions in the region.

Indonesia said earlier this month that it would consider granting refugee status to hundreds of the migrants and urged other countries to stop abusing them.

Mr Abhisit appeared to admit in a television interview last week that the kingdom's authorities had towed the Rohingyas out to sea, but later said he was only referring to Thai authorities letting them drift elsewhere.

Photographs apparently showing the Thai army towing refugees in boats and lining Rohingya men up on a beach have been published in the international media this year.

Source - The Bangkok Post