Rohingya issue requires ASEAN’s human rights responsibility

BANGKOK, Feb 17 (TNA) - Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission has called on ASEAN policymakers to increase coordination on the Rohingya issue as their exodus for resettlement creates mounting pressure. Somchai Homla-or, a member of the NHRC, stressed that helping Rohinya migrants should not be a burden to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia alone. Somchai said it was time ASEAN give up its principle of non-interference and demand Myanmar’s full responsibility for its estimated one million Rohingya population. He also underscored the need for better women and child protection laws to ensure humanitarian support for the refugees, who have become subject to discrimination for decades. (TNA)