BANGKOK, 28 May 2015 – Thailand is sending its personnel to conduct joint inspections of bodies of Rohingya migrants discovered in Malaysia close to the two countries’ shared border.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prawit Wongsuwon indicated on Wednesday that Malaysian police had asked for permission to operate in Thai territory, in response to the discovery of mass graves of Rohingya migrants on the Malaysian side of the border. He said Thai officials would also join their Malaysian counterparts in inspecting the bodies.
Meanwhile, Police Major General Phutthichat Ekkachan, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9, said Malaysian police wanted to transport the bodies through Thai territory due to the difficulty in traversing the areas near the mass graves on the Malaysian side.
The command center for patrols and humanitarian assistance for irregular migrants in the Indian Ocean has started operations, with emphasis being placed on the needs of the Rohingya migrants, General Prawit said.
