Thai FM Meets with UNHCR to Discuss Rohingya
A spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that there were “positive indications” that Thailand would respond soon to a request for access to detained Rohingya boat people following a meeting on Thursday between the Thai foreign minister and a representative of the UN agency.
Kitty McKinsey, a spokesperson for the UNHCR in Bangkok, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya did not formally grant the request during his meeting with UNHCR representative Raymond Hall at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but, “There was obviously a wish to cooperate with the UNHCR.”
“We have not had any formal permission yet from the Thai authorities, but we have had positive indications that we will have a formal response soon,” said McKinsey.
The UNHCR asked the Thai government to grant access to the boat people for interviews last week. The agency said it believes 126 Rohingya are in the custody of Thai authorities. continue http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15027
