DHAKA: A regional conference is under way in the Thai capital Bangkok to discuss possible solutions to the South East Asia migrant crisis, reports BBC.

The talks include member states from the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) as well as representatives from the US and the UN.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have seen an exodus of people fleeing south by boat to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Thousands are thought to be stranded at sea in abandoned boats.

Most are economic migrants from Bangladesh and Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar - also known as Burma.

In his opening remarks, Thailand's Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said "the influx of irregular migrants... has reached alarming levels" and an urgent and united response was needed.

Thailand has agreed to allow US surveillance planes to fly from its territory to find boats carrying migrants adrift in the ocean.
Patimapragorn added that "the root causes that motivated these people to leave must also be addressed", in comments apparently directed at Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The delegation from Myanmar has threatened to walk out if the word Rohingya is mentioned.

Friday's talks include representatives from 17 countries affected by "irregular migration in the Indian Ocean" - Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

The US, Japan and Switzerland have sent observers and there are officials from the UN refugee agency, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Organization for Migration.

BDST: 1125 HRS, MAY 29, 2015
HB/AKA