JAPAN: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
Record ID:
465613
JAPAN: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
- Title: JAPAN: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
- Date: 7th February 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 06, 2009) (REUTERS) ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND, WALKING INTO A NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS LISTENING IN THE AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND, SAYING: "Our service-mindedness is renowned the world over. Obviously, our reputation was affected by the political incidents particularly the airport occupations last year, which we regret. But we are very serious in addressing that those concerns." ABHISIT STANDING AT THE PODIUM AND REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND, SAYING: "Of course, political differences and divisions, which you have seen in Thailand over the last two to three years are not just gonna go away within one month. We do still have a very active opposition inside and outside parliament and there will continue to be street protests. But the way we have dealt with the situation is that the government will make sure that the protest are an exercise of constitutional rights." REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND, SAYING: "My approach now is to invite UNHCR to help make this a truly regional corporation to deal with the matter. So not just the countries I've mentioned - Myanmar, India, Bangladesh - but even Indonesia and Malaysia should also take part. That's the only way of of dealing with the problem and help treat these people in a humane way. If we just leave this as a kind of blame game, people shift blames and people...back and forth, you're not helping those people." ABHISIT STANDING AT THE PODIUM AND REPORTERS LISTENING
- Embargoed: 22nd February 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA6FBSLRJSSKIHGI9NNONNQ1W0K
- Story Text: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Friday (February 6), to discuss Japan's investment to Thailand and ASEAN issues. Abhisit is on a three-day visit to Japan, Thailand's biggest foreign investor.
At a joint news conference at the Japan Press Club in Tokyo, Abhisit reiterated his concerns on the political crisis in Thailand.
"Our service-mindedness is renowned the world over. Obviously, our reputation was affected by the political incidents particularly the airport occupations last year, which we regret," said Abhisit, who faces mounting challenges at home.
"But we are very serious in addressing that those concerns."
A 44-year-old Oxford-educated economist, Abhisit took over last December after a court dismissed the previous administration that was shaken by months of protests.
Anti-government protesters laid siege to Bangkok's international airport in November, demanding former Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to resign.
The Thai crisis stranded hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists as the protesters blockaded Bangkok's two main airports including Suvarnabhumi Airport, hub for Thailand's lucrative tourist industry.
Abhisit said the country's political divisions will likely to continue, but hopes to overcome the issues with a planned reconciliation program.
"Of course, political differences and divisions, which you have seen in Thailand over the last two to three years are not just gonna go away within one month," Abhisit said.
"We do still have a very active opposition inside and outside parliament and there will continue to be street protests. But the way we have dealt with the situation is that the government will make sure that the protest are an exercise of constitutional rights."
His commitment to human rights is also being questioned after the Thai military sent some 1,000 Rohingya boat people, Muslims fleeing oppression from Myanmar, back out to sea in rickety boats several weeks ago. More than 500 are feared to have drowned.
The primer rejected allegations that security forces have mistreated Myanmar refugees held in his country and said the U.N. refugee agency could see the latest arrivals.
"My approach now is to invite UNHCR to help make this a truly regional corporation to deal with the matter. So not just the countries I've mentioned - Myanmar, India, Bangladesh - but even Indonesia and Malaysia should also take part," said Abhisit.
"That's the only way of of dealing with the problem and help treat these people in a humane way. If we just leave this as a kind of blame game...people shift blames back and forth, you're not helping those people."
Abhisit has promised a full investigation, but said the authorities insisted they had not mistreated the people.
Security agencies said the number of Rohingya intercepted in Thai waters each year has risen steadily to 4,886 in 2008 from 2,793 in 2007 and 1,225 in 2006.
The UNHCR said there are 28,000 Rohingya refugees living in two U.N.
camps in Bangladesh and some 200,000 living outside the camps there. Many have sailed from Bangladesh and Myanmar in small boats in recent years and turned up in Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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