By : Agus*)
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomes Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand desire to receive thousands human boat refugee. Nowadays, those refugees are staying in Bay of Bengal and offshore Southeast Asia. Those countries have held meeting between the foreign ministries of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia discussed refugees.
Volker Türk, the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, says the first priority is to save lives. It is key for States to share the responsibility to disembark these people immediately.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq at UN Headquarters, New York, USA says that desires are important step to solve human boat refugee problem, especially for medication and proper living standard.
The Myanmar government has refused to recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group and treats them as illegal immigrants. Most Rohingyas are Muslims living near the borders of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Escaping persecution by the military-dominated government, many Rohingyas have crossed borders to seek shelter and work in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Some have been victimized by human trafficking groups.
*) The Author is Brunei Contributor
