BANGKOK, 14 May 2015 – Thailand will host a meeting of representatives from the 15 nations most affected by irregular migration in the Indian Ocean at the end of the month.
Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, deputy government spokesperson, said on Wednesday the hosting of the meeting was part of the government’s effort to address human trafficking and the irregular migration of Rohingya people. According to him, senior officials from the 15 most-affected nations, such as Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Bangladesh will be invited to meet in Bangkok over the irregular migration problem. Maj. Gen. Sansern said the problem is a complex and severe issue for this region that requires urgent attention.
Observer countries and relevant international organizations will also be invited to attend the meeting on May 29. These will include parties from the United States, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Organization for Migration and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
According to Maj. Gen. Sansern, the meeting will facilitate the exchange of information and intelligence on irregular maritime migration. Participating countries may also consider joint law enforcement to put a stop to the transnational crime syndicates involved in the issue. The countries will also be asked to campaign against exploitation of migrants by human traffickers.
