|
The plight of the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority will be high on the agenda during Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's two-day visit to Indonesia beginning today, government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said yesterday.
Thailand and Indonesia have agreed to address the issue in a multinational setting under an existing forum called the Bali Process, said Panithan.
The Bali Process, co-chaired by Indonesia and Australia, was created in 2002. It brings participants together to work on practical measures to help combat people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crimes in the region.
However, it remained unclear as to what an international forum could do for the Rohingya, given the fact no countries, including Burma where they reside, has claimed them.
Hundreds of Rohingyas have been rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters in recent weeks, saying they were detained and beaten after crossing into Thailand and then set adrift at sea by Thai security forces.
Thailand and the Rohingya came under international media attention and criticism from human rights groups after it was discovered Thai naval units had forced hundreds of the fleeing Muslims back into international waters.
Thailand will also seek input from Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, on the ongoing violence in the Malay-speaking South, Panithan said. -The Nation/ Asia News Network
Read also:
» Myanmar envoy brands Rohingya 'ugly as ogres'
» Over 500 ethnic Rohingya boat people still missing at sea
» 78 Rohingya boat people arrested
| 
