THAI PM VOWS ACCOUNTABILITY ON MIGRANTS

photograph apparently showing the Thai army towing refugees out to sea has been published in the media

TOKYO : Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged Friday to hold accountable any security forces who abused Muslim migrants from Myanmar after hundreds of boat people were found adrift.
He made the promise on a visit to Japan, where he tried to assure Thailand's biggest investor that the kingdom was "back on track" after months of intense political turmoil.
"If facts emerge that there have been abuses by our officials, they will have to be held accountable," Abhisit told a news conference here.
"Whether it's refugees, whether it's illegal migrant workers, my government intends to respect humanitarian principles and human rights," he added.
The fledgling government has been under fire after hundreds of migrants from Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority were rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters in recent weeks, some covered with welts.
They have said they were detained and beaten before being set adrift with few supplies by Thai security forces. Rights groups fear scores may have perished. A photograph apparently showing the Thai army towing refugees out to sea has been published in the media.
But the British-born premier insisted there was no proof of wrongdoing.
The migrants are "clearly young men seeking economic opportunities trying to enter Thailand illegally," he said.
"The reports of abuse are solely based on accounts given by these people and nothing more," he added, while urging neighbouring countries to cooperate in handling the issue.
Indonesia Friday said it would consider granting refugee status to them, overturning the government's previous line that they were economic migrants.
The Oxford-educated Abhisit, who took office in December, was on a three-day visit to Tokyo accompanied by six ministers in a bid to reassure investors. He later met with Prime Minister Taro Aso.
"I stand before you to reassure you that at this time Thailand is back on track," he earlier told a group of business leaders.
Source: AFP