The United States has urged Bangladesh and Myanmar to continue to facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access to adrift migrants.
Jeff Rathke, director, Press Office of the US Department of State, while addressing the daily press briefing at Washington on June 9, also encouraged the two Southeast Asian countries to work with international organisations like the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, and to process these migrants in line with their international commitments.
Replying to a query, Jeff Rathke said: “About the 150 migrants rescued by Myanmar navy, who were repatriated to Bangladesh Monday which was a result of cooperation between the governments of Burma and Bangladesh.
“We urge, encourage Burma and Bangladesh to continue to facilitate the unrestricted humanitarian access and to work with international organizations like the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, and to process these migrants in line with their international commitments.”
“And we also understand that the governments of Burma and Bangladesh are working with appropriate international organizations to verify the identities of the migrants who are – who have disembarked,” Rathke added.
The official also mentioned that US authorities' view on treating Rohingya Muslim as a minority citizen, has not changed.
Recently, US President Barack Obama has urged to the Myanmar authority the Rohingya Muslims treated as minority citizen.
Replying to another query over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Dhaka visit, the US official said: “We support good relations between the two countries.”
However, Rathke did not make any further comment on the issue.
