Prayut orders 'floating base' for migrants

Prayut orders 'floating base' for migrants

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the navy to set up a special task force to handle the influx of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants in Thai waters.

He said that a "floating base" operating in the sea will be set up as part of the task force, providing migrants with humanitarian assistance.

The navy will deploy two large vessels each with a team of medical personnel to help sea migrants, he said.

Gen Prayut added that the air force will also deploy aircraft to patrol Thai waters and monitor the movements of sea migrants.

Any migrants found stranded in Thai waters will be brought aboard the navy vessels and given medical help.

The migrants will then be screened by authorities before being sent to temporary shelters in Indonesia and Malaysia, Gen Prayut said.

Thailand is ready to facilitate the migrants' journey, he said, and stressed that the boat people must follow Thai laws.

Thai authorities value the lives of the migrants, and are willing to provide them with the humanitarian assistance they need, he said.

Regarding a request by the US to send its aircraft into Thai airspace to monitor the boat people, Gen Prayut said the Americans must respect and cooperate with Thai officials.

Gen Prayut also said he has instructed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to step up their roles in tackling the boat people problem ahead of Friday's regional meeting in Bangkok to discuss solutions to the mounting exodus of boat people. 

Senior officials from 15 countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Australia and the United States are expected to attend the meeting.

Thailand has asked the UN and the US for help in addressing the growing crisis, Gen Prayut said.

Gen Prawit confirmed that the US had asked Thailand if it could fly aircraft in Thai airspace to monitor the boat people, although the request was not made in writing. 

Thailand has no problem with the request, he said, adding that Thailand is ready to support the US operation.

Navy commander Kraisorn Chansuvanich said yesterday the navy has established a task force with the floating base to provide boat people with humanitarian help, as ordered by the prime minister.

Adm Kraisorn said the 3rd Naval Area Command has been ordered to deploy two patrol aircraft and two vessels to look for boat people.

He said the navy will also use its air base at Phuket airport to support humanitarian efforts to help the boat people.

The US is welcome to join the navy's humanitarian operation at the airport, Adm Kraisorn said.

Meanwhile, deputy national police chief Ake Angsananont yesterday said officials have the human trafficking crisis in the South under control.

Of the 77 suspects wanted on arrest warrants, 46 have been detained, he said.

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