United Nations Radio

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, today asked the government of Thailand for access to two groups of Rohingya boat people who are being held in custody in the southern part of the country.

The Rohingya are stateless Muslims from Myanmar.

Last week the UN refugee agency expressed concern to the government over allegations that large groups of Rohingya boat people from Myanmar were intercepted in Thai waters, towed out to sea and left to die.

UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond says the agency wants to assess the situation of the more than 120 people to determine whether any of them need international protection.

"According to information from our sources, a group of 80 Rohingya boat people are being held on Koh Sai Daeng Island off the Thai coast in the Andaman Sea. A further 46 Rohingya who were intercepted on a boat last Friday were reportedly handed over to the Thai military authorities and we are trying to determine their whereabouts."

Ron Redmond says that given the new Thai government's commitment to human rights, UNHCR is eager to discuss with the country's foreign minister ways to quickly defuse this crisis.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova

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