Migrants ‘not fleeing persecution’

Burma says that thousands of migrants left the country to seek better jobs elsewhere, and were not fleeing persecution, a day after bringing to shore about 730 migrants, the latest arrivals in Southeast Asia’s ongoing crisis.

Foreign affairs minister Wunna Maung Lwin’s remarks were Burma’s latest denial of any blame for the humanitarian crisis. More than 4,600 desperate and hungry boat people have been rescued in five countries since early May after a regional crackdown on smugglers prompted some captains to abandon their human cargo at sea.

The UN has said about half of those who landed were Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Burma, and the rest were Bangladeshis escaping poverty.

“It is not true that the migrants from Burma fled because of discrimination or persecution in Burma,” the foreign minister said during a briefing to foreign diplomats about the crisis.

“They are just the victims of human smugglers. These are migrants who are seeking better jobs in other countries,” he added.

Burmese authorities intercepted boats packed with more than 730 people and brought the group ashore in western Rakhine state, said Wunna Maung Lwin.

Those on board included 611 men, 72 women and 51 children whose nationalities thegovernment was still verifying, he said.

“Those who are verified as citizens of Bangladesh will be sent back to their country starting Sunday,” he said.

“Burma is not in a position to give assistance to the migrants long term, as it is a developing country,” he said.