Thailand has expressed its support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (Asean) humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
Makawadee Sumitmor, deputy director-general of the Department of Information and deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Thursday Thailand is concerned by the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, particularly communities gravely affected by the crisis.
Recent clashes between an insurgent group known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and Myanmar security forces in Myanmar's Rakhine state have displaced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya over past weeks.
More than 380,000 Rohingya were forced to cross the border to take shelter in refugee camps in Bangaladesh, according to a United Nations estimate, with even more still stranded inside Myanmar's Rakhine state.
"Thailand believes providing humanitarian assistance is an urgent matter. The government is considering how it can help the affected people.
"Thailand, as a member of Asean, is ready to support Asean in giving humanitarian relief [to Rohingya Muslim people] in Rakhine state. We will discuss ways to offer help and what the most appropriate approach will be. We will keep monitoring the situation closely," she said.
Thailand has expressed its concerns over the Rohingya situation ahead of a meeting of foreign affairs ministers from Asean countries to discuss the humanitarian crisis during the 72th United Nations General Assembly in New York between Sept 17 – 24, she said.
Meanwhile, the commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment Thepsatri Task Force in Ranong, Col Santi Sakultanak, confirmed Rohingya fleeing Myanmar will not be allowed to enter Thailand.
However, the military will provide enough food for 15–20 days, and then pass them on to other countries.
Col Santi said there tends to be a large number of Rohingya migrating from Myanmar to Thailand from November to February every year.
They use boats to head to their preferred destination via Thailand.
The military will use the same procedure its does every year, which is to let the Rohingya through after providing them with enough food, drinking water, gasoline, medication, and anything else necessary for them to be able to continue their journey for the next 15–20 days.
During a conference held by academics from Chulalongkorn University on Wednesday, Sunet Chutinatharanon, the dean of the Graduate School and an expert on Myanmar history said what is happening in Myanmar to the Rohingya is a violation of human rights.
"The internal violence the Rohingya face dates back a long way, and is just as bad today," he said.
"The best way to solve the problem is to look at history and social structures," Mr Sunet added.
