Thailand hosts int'l meeting on irregular migration in Indian Ocean

The second Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean was held here on Friday, at which participants from 18 countries and six related international organizations explored solutions to irregular migration in the Indian Ocean.

Participants discussed the current situation and challenges of irregular migration, the progresses made after the first such meeting held last May, and the way forward to address contributing factor of the problem through the promotion of safe migration and development of sustainable livelihood.

Thailand, as chair of the meeting, tabled a draft Action Agenda on concrete actions to address the problem for the five most affected countries, namely, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, said a statement by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Irregular migration is not a problem for any one country or one region alone to face and handle, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said in his opening remarks.

It must be recognized that this issue requires burden sharing by all -- as countries of origin, transit or destination, or as members of the international community, he stressed.

"Tailored and goal-oriented solutions are needed for each country along the migration path," the minister said.

These solutions can include the promotion of livelihoods at home as well as safe migration, strict law enforcement against transnational criminal syndicates preying on vulnerable migrants, and temporary protection measures for those who have already left while pending more durable solutions, which may include voluntary repatriation and resettlement, he suggested.

Meanwhile, the Thai minister insisted it must be always kept in mind that "irregular migration has a human face."

"These migrants are women and children -- our brothers and sisters, our children. We must, therefore, do all that we can to uphold our humanitarian traditions and the very sanctity of human life itself," he said.

During the special meeting, the five most affected countries briefed the participants on the efforts and measures each country was undertaking, including cooperation between the Myanmar government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Bangladesh's active cooperation with countries in the region to assist Bangladeshi migrants to return homes, the statement said.

The five countries will meet again in February 2016 on the sidelines of the Bali Process Ad Hoc Group Senior Officials Meeting in Thailand to discuss the draft Action Agenda. Endit