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Myanmar refuses sole blame for Asia migrant crisis Myanmar picks up migrants as Asean agrees to tackle crisis
(about 1 hour later)
Myanmar has refused to be singled out for blame for the Asia migrant crisis at a conference of the regional grouping Asean in Bangkok. Asian countries have agreed to work together to try to stem the region's migrant crisis, as Myanmar brought to shore another boat full of migrants.
Delegates said the situation was at an alarming level. Representatives of the US and UN are also at the meeting. Countries agreed to intensify search-and-rescue operations as well as address root causes of migration at a regional conference in Bangkok.
Thousands of people have fled Myanmar and Bangladesh by boat, heading south to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Myanmar rejected allegations that it is largely to blame for the crisis.
On Friday Myanmar - also known as Burma - said it had seized a boat packed with 727 migrants off its southern coast. Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya minority as well as Bangladeshi immigrants make up the bulk of those stranded at sea.
It said the migrants - more than 600 men, along with women and children - were "Bengali". On Friday it said it had picked up a boat with 727 migrants on board - just a week after it picked up about 200 in its first such operation.
The term is used to describe both describe Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya minority as well as immigrants from Bangladesh.
Together those two groups make up the bulk of the 2,600 migrants the UN recently estimated were stranded at sea.
The crisis began earlier this year when Thailand cracked down on overland migrant routes, forcing people smugglers to use sea routes instead.The crisis began earlier this year when Thailand cracked down on overland migrant routes, forcing people smugglers to use sea routes instead.
Thousands of migrants are thought to be stranded at sea, trying to head south to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Delegates to the meeting of the Asean regional grouping - also attended by the US, UN and International Organization for Migration (IOM) - said the situation was "alarming".
'No finger-pointing''No finger-pointing'
Myanmar said those aboard the boat picked up on Friday had been taken to a naval base in the Irrawaddy Delta. Myanmar - also known as Burma - published images of the latest migrant vessel it says it intercepted off its southern coast on an official Facebook page.
It came a week after Myanmar intercepted 200 migrants - its first such rescue, which came amid criticism the country has failed to enough to help those stranded and stem the crisis. They show a boat crammed with men, watched by a guard with a rifle. Below deck women are pictured - Myanmar says women and children make up 119 of those on board.
In Bangkok, Myanmar's foreign ministry chief Htin Lynn said his country would co-operate in dealing with human trafficking. Myanmar said those picked up on Friday had been taken to a naval base in the Irrawaddy Delta.
But he also told delegates that on "this issue of illegal migration of boat people, you cannot single out my country. It referred to the migrants as "Bengali" - a term it uses to describe both its Rohingya Muslim minority as well as immigrants from Bangladesh.
The country has faced criticism for failing to do enough to help those stranded.
But in Bangkok foreign ministry chief Htin Lynnhe told delegates that on "this issue of illegal migration of boat people, you cannot single out my country.
"Finger-pointing will not serve any purpose. It will take us nowhere.""Finger-pointing will not serve any purpose. It will take us nowhere."
In his opening remarks, Thai Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said "the influx of irregular migrants... has reached alarming levels". Friday's Asean meeting was attended by 17 countries affected by "irregular migration in the Indian Ocean", observers from the US, Japan and Switzerland and other agencies.
He added that "the root causes that motivated these people to leave must also be addressed", in comments apparently directed at Myanmar and Bangladesh. Intense international scrutiny has concentrated minds, softening the previously uncompromising stance towards the migrants, says the BBC's Jonathan Head at the meeting.
US assistant secretary of state Anne Richard also urged swift action to save the lives of migrants out at sea. A final statement said:
Analysis: Jonathan Head, BBC News, Bangkok The statement also said countries would work to address root causes of irregular migration - working to create jobs and promoting "full respect for human rights and adequate access of people to basic rights and services such as housing, education and healthcare".
There is a growing consensus on how to help those migrants caught out by Thailand's sudden move against smuggling networks. Migrant boats will no longer be pushed back to sea by Malaysia and Indonesia, although Thailand will still nudge those it finds in the direction of those two countries. That, our correspondent says, is something Rohingyas - who are nowhere explicitly mentioned in the statement - do not have.
Money is being found to help support those who have already landed. Thailand has even dropped its objection to the US flying military surveillance aircraft over its territorial waters. After their harrowing voyages, the migrants should now get fair and humane treatment. But Myanmar rejects complaints that its harsh treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority forces many of them to take to the sea each year.
Addressing what's causing the flow of migrants is clearly going to be more difficult. The Bangladesh delegation acknowledged that many are poor economic migrants from its shores, but stressed "external factors" driving others - a veiled reference to the harsh treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Almost no-one is using the word Rohingya, though. The Burmese delegation objects to this, and has warned against what it calls "finger-pointing". Consensus on the Rohingyas is still a very distant goal.
Are more people on the move than ever before?
'Only discussions'
Friday's talks include representatives from 17 countries affected by "irregular migration in the Indian Ocean".
The US, Japan and Switzerland have sent observers and there are officials from the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Organization for Migration.
However, correspondents say many of those attending are not ministerial-level and the talks are unlikely to produce a binding agreement or even a plan of action.
Most countries are unwilling take in the migrants, fearing that by accepting them they will encourage more to make the journey.
Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to stop towing boats out to sea and to give temporary shelter to those who have landed. Thailand has only said it will stop rejecting the boats.
More than 3,000 migrants have landed in Indonesia and Malaysia in recent weeks.
Asia's migrant crisisAsia's migrant crisis
Why are so many Rohingya stranded at sea?Why are so many Rohingya stranded at sea?
The perilous journey of a migrant boat that made itThe perilous journey of a migrant boat that made it
The Indonesian villagers saving migrantsThe Indonesian villagers saving migrants
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Or you can contact us on WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971Or you can contact us on WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971