Press Release for illegal migration to Myanmar

Press Release

  1. Myanmar is making serious efforts to prevent human smuggling and illegal migration while Myanmar Navy and Air Force are regularly patrolling its territorial water. On 21 May 2015, during patrolling, Myanmar Navy found a boat with 208 people and rescued them on humanitarian ground. They are given temporally shelters at Taung Pya (Let Wai), Rakhine State.
  1. In order to send them back to their place of origin expeditiously, the findings from the verification process were sent to the Bangladeshi side through diplomatic channel. According to the procedures, consular access was permitted to the Bangladeshi side to make necessary verification based on the verification results of the Myanmar side.
  1. Also on 29 May 2015, while Myanmar Navy was on duty patrolling for the safety of territorial water, they spotted a suspicious fishing vessel located at southeast of Pyapon Township of Ayeyarwaddy Region. On the boat, 734 men, women and children were found. In order for them to return back to their original place, women and children are kept at temporary places near Taung Pyo (Let Wai) and the remaining people are kept at temporary shelters near Boundary Pillar No, 37 from Bangladesh border, north of Taung Pyo (Let Wai) on humanitarian grounds.
  1. Myanmar is deploying all diplomatic means with the country concerned through diplomatic charnel to send the boat people back to their place of origin.
  1. On 3 June 2015, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin received the Bangladeshi Ambassador to Myanmar, at Nay Pyi Taw. During the discussion, the Union Minister said that Myanmar is providing temporary shelters to the beat people on humanitarian grounds and urged the Bangladeshi side to expeditiously receive back the people who are given temporary shelters after completing the verification process. The Bangladeshi Ambassador said his government has given priority on the matter and as bilateral relations between the two countries are flourishing, necessary preparations are being carried out expeditiously. He also replied that the repatriation process will begin on 7 June 2015.
  1. Officials from the Embassy of People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Yangon and Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe will begin consular access on 4 June 2015 to the abovementioned rescued people who are given temporary shelters.
  2. While the Government of Myanmar is protecting the interests of its people as well as the interests of the country in the international community, arrangements are being made to send the rescued boat people back to their place of origin by taking serious consideration on the matter on humanitarian grounds.

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
June 3, 2015