Myanmar rejects sole blame for Southeast Asian migration crisis
The BBC reports today on discussion at an ASEAN conference in Bangkok to address the Southeast Asian migration crisis. Thousands of people have fled Bangladesh and Myanmar by boat, heading south to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. The UN estimates about 2,600 migrants are still stranded out at sea. The crisis began earlier this year when Thailand cracked down on overland migrant routes, forcing people smugglers to use sea routes instead. Myanmar’s foreign ministry chief Htin Lynn said his country would co-operate in dealing with human trafficking, but he added that on “this issue of illegal migration of boat people, you cannot single out my country. Finger-pointing will not serve any purpose.” Thai Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said “the root causes that motivated these people to leave must also be addressed.” Friday’s talks include representatives from 17 countries affected by “irregular migration…