Malaysia orders sea search for stranded boat people
YANGON, Myanmar — Four Malaysian navy ships searched the seas for stranded boat people Thursday in the first official rescue operation since migrants started washing on to Southeast Asia’s shores.
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis are believed to be trapped on boats with little food or water — some after being pushed back by navies of at least three countries — and the international community has warned that time to save them is running out.
The announcement Thursday by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was the latest in a series of breakthroughs, including an offer by his country and Indonesia to provide temporary shelter to the migrants until a more permanent solution is found. Myanmar, which earlier hinted it would skip a regional meeting in Thailand next week bringing together representatives of more than a dozen nations, has changed course saying it would attend.
About half the migrants on the boats are Rohingya Muslims who are fleeing persecution and violence in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. “We are ready to co-operate with other governments to resolve the ongoing problems through constructive engagement and on humanitarian grounds,” said Zaw Htay, director of the president’s office in Myanmar.
Myanmar officials refer to members of the religious minority as “Bengalis,” implying they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh, even though many have lived in the country for generations. The UN says the Rohingya are one of the most persecuted groups in the world.
Over past years, Rohingya have faced increasing statesanctioned discrimination in Myanmar. They have been targeted by violent mobs of Buddhist extremists and confined to camps. At least 120,000 have fled to sea, and an unknown number have died.
Since the crisis stated unfolding three weeks ago, about 3,000 migrants have washed to shore. The UN refugee agency estimates more than 3,000 others may still be at sea.
After pushing back several vessels, Indonesia and Malaysia announced Wednesday they would offer temporary shelter to incoming migrants if the international community helps resettle them within a year.