Myanmar refutes unbalanced, negative comments over "boat people" issue

Myanmar has rejected unbalanced and negative comments on the issue of "boat people" made by some speakers of Tuesday's Oslo Conference, saying that their comments were counterproductive.

In its statement published on Sunday, Myanmar's Foreign Ministry criticized them for turning a blind eye to Myanmar's efforts on rebuilding trust among two communities in Rakhine state.

Myanmar has been extending full cooperation with countries in the region to solve the issue of "boat people", while providing humanitarian assistance and search and rescue efforts in an individual capacity, the statement said.

In a special meeting on irregular migration in Indian Ocean held in Bangkok on Friday, Myanmar delegation also pointed out that the focus should be made on more cooperation in providing humanitarian and development assistance to the affected countries rather than finger-pointing at a country, the statement defended.

"At a time when humanitarian need is required for the boat people that becomes victims of smugglers and traffickers, placing a one-sided view on a country will not serve the purpose of the efforts being carried out in at-risk countries including Myanmar," the statement maintained, pointing out that it would create misunderstanding from the international community.

The issue of "boat people" in the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca was escalated in Southeast Asia in mid-May, which affected Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.

In May, Myanmar rescued "boat people" for two times in its waters with the prior being 208 and the latter 727 and repatriation of them to their original country had been arranged through diplomatic channels. Endi