Sharing the burden of dealing with the Rohingya migrant crisis with other countries will be among the key issues Thailand will raise at a major regional meeting in Bangkok on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn yesterday stressed the need for the international community to help provide aid to Rohingya boat people.
He expected the meeting will be fruitful and come up with workable solutions to the Rohingya crisis.
Gen Tanasak said the meeting will also discuss measures to help migrants stranded in boats at sea, address the problems causing the exodus of migrants from their countries of origin, and crack down on networks involved in Rohingya trafficking.
Gen Tanasak: We are always ready to offer humanitarian assistance.
He said any solution must not create conflict among countries in the region.
The minister insisted that Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand share the same stance in handling the boat people. Thailand, however, should not have to provide shelter for them because the country already has to look after more than 100,000 refugees from neighbouring countries.
"We [Thailand] are always ready to offer humanitarian assistance. We have always been helping. Above all, things should be in accordance with Thai law if migrants want to enter the Kingdom of Thailand", Gen Tanasak said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday the destination countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, which offer to provide temporary shelter to Rohingya migrants, will request funding from the UN to support their relief efforts.
This matter will also be discussed at Friday's meeting, Gen Prayut said.
Senior officials from 17 countries directly affected by the problem, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia will attend the meeting. The US, Switzerland and Japan will send observers.
Representatives from international organisations including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will also attend.
Gen Prayut also called on the UN to find out why the migrants have to flee their countries of origin and find ways to ensure they will no longer migrate.
Gen Prayut said Thailand will propose setting up a model relief operation centre to help the migrants at Friday's meeting. Patrol aircraft and the navy's vessels forming a floating platform operating at sea will be part of the relief operation.
Gen Prayut said Thailand will also seek funds from the US to cover the costs of running the proposed relief operation centre.
The prime minister said he has instructed authorities to explain to Rohingya migrants that Thailand already has the burden of looking after large numbers of other refugees, and the country has helped refugees in compliance with the UN's resolutions for nearly three decades.
"It is the duty of every country to look after fellow humans," Gen Prayut said.
He said Thailand needs to "regulate" Rohingya migrants found in Thai territorial waters before they go to their destination countries.
Regarding a request by the US to use U-tapao airbase and Phuket airport as bases to monitor the movements of migrants in Thai waters, Gen Tanasak said Thailand is willing to consider the request, although the US must provide more details of flight routes.
Most importantly, if the US request is approved, its mission must come under the supervision of Thai authorities who are in charge of the navy's special task force set up to handle the influx of migrants, Gen Tanasak said.
Thailand has also asked the US to send ships to support the task force's humanitarian operations, he said.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces yesterday launched an operation centre to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya and ฺBangladeshi migrants found adrift on boats in the Andaman Sea.
The centre named the Operation Centre for Patrol and Human Assistance for Irregular Migrants in the Indian Ocean is headed by Supreme Commander Worapong Sanganetra. The centre is based at Phuket's deep-sea port.
The operation mainly involves the 3rd Navy Region and the Royal Thai Air Force and is initially scheduled to last for two weeks, but could be extended if needed.
Third Naval Region commander Vice Adm Sayan Prasongsamret said during a ceremony to launch the operation centre that the area to be covered is about 30 nautical miles west of the Similan Islands.
The navy has deployed seven vessels including HTMS Ang Thong, which is being used as a floating base, HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Thayanchon, along with two reconnaissance planes and two helicopters. The combined force involves about 600 personnel.
The air force's Gripen fighter jets from Wing 7 in Surat Thani province and Saab 340 airborne early warning and control aircraft will contribute to the operation.
The move follows an order on Monday by Gen Prayut to patrol and give humanitarian assistance to Rohingya and other boat people fleeing Bangladesh after the migrant crisis exploded into an issue of regional concern.
Vice Adm Sayan reiterated the Thai position - that boat people trying to come ashore in Thai territory will face legal action.
The navy will give boat people food, fuel and medical help as needed to enable them to continue their journey to their planned destinations, he said.
They will not be allowed to come ashore.
