Academics and representatives of the Rohingya community in Thailand have applauded the government's decision to support Asean's role in providing humanitarian aid to Rohingya people in Myanmar suffering violence.
Naruemon Thabchumpon, professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, said the stance of the Thai Foreign Ministry demonstrated positive signs concerning the situation, but warned the government to be cautious.
Prof Naruemon said the Myanmar government is reluctant to receive help because they are afraid that if aid is sent to the Rohingya community alone, it would legitimise the narrative that Rohingya are the only group affected by the conflict; therefore, aid should be sent to both sides of the parties to the conflict.
"I suggest the Foreign Ministry push the agenda through Asean by means of using diplomatic channels and persuade the Myanmar government to accept humanitarian aid on the condition that the aid is going to both sides of the parties to the conflict," she said.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said earlier the Thai government is considering sending humanitarian aid to those affected. Furthermore, as a member of Asean, Thailand supports Asean's role in providing humanitarian aid and the government is considering what form of humanitarian aid would be most appropriate.
Maung Kyaw Nu, president of the Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand, said the Rohingya community welcomes aid and humanitarian assistance from Thailand and the international community and that they appreciate the active role that Thailand has always played in helping the Rohingya people.
However, he said that Thailand should, along with other Asean members, coordinate with the UN to put more pressure on the Myanmar government to achieve a political solution that would put an immediate stop to the persecution and genocide of Rohingya people in Rakhine state.
"This is an emergency and a threat to the region; we [the Rohingya] need to be protected. The number of displaced people is increasing.
"If we don't put an end to this soon, this is going to spread and affect not just Thailand but other Asean countries in the region. It could lead to other problems such as human trafficking as well," he said.
