JOINT STATEMENT

MINISTERIAL MEETING ON IRREGULAR MOVEMENT

OF PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand met in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Wednesday, 20 May 2015 to discuss the issue of irregular movement of people into Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.  This is with a view to finding a solution to the crisis of influx of irregular migrants and its serious impact on the national security of the affected countries. 

They agreed to resolve this issue in keeping with the spirit of unity and solidarity of ASEAN as well as the aspiration to have a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN. 

Acknowledging the dire humanitarian circumstances of the crisis, the Ministers expressed their deep concern on the plight of the irregular migrants, including those currently on the high seas, and in particular women and children. 

The Ministers emphasized that necessary measures have been taken by the three (3) countries on humanitarian grounds, beyond their international obligations, in addressing the current influx of irregular migrants and further underlined that the issue cannot be addressed solely by the three (3) countries.

The Ministers strongly condemn people smuggling and human trafficking and expressed their governments’ determination to continue to take the necessary action, individually and collectively, to bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to justice.

The Ministers acknowledged that a comprehensive and durable solution to the crisis requires, inter alia, the involvement of relevant stakeholders and through the various existing international mechanisms.  This notwithstanding, they agreed to implement the following interim measures:

1.   Addressing the Root Causes

The root causes and other contributory factors to the recent influx of irregular migrants should be immediately identified and addressed by the parties concerned. To this end, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand remain prepared to continue to assist and work, in a constructive manner with the parties concerned.

2.   Role of Affected Countries

Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand will continue to uphold their responsibilities and obligations under international law and in accordance with their respective domestic laws, including the provision of humanitarian assistance to the irregular migrants.   

Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those 7,000 irregular migrants still at sea.  We also agreed to offer them temporary shelter provided that the resettlement and repatriation process will be done in one year by the international community.  In the meantime, Malaysia and Indonesia invite other countries in the region to join in this endeavour.

The enforcement agencies of the countries concerned will continue to share intelligence information in their efforts to combat people smuggling and human trafficking.

3.    Role of the International Community

Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand call upon the international community to uphold their responsibility and urgently share the burden of providing the necessary support to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand in addressing the problem.  Subject to assurances by the international community to provide the necessary support, the Ministers propose the following:

i. The international community will be responsible in providing Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand with the necessary support, particularly financial assistance, to enable them to provide temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance to the irregular migrants currently at risk.  These migrants will be sheltered in a designated area to be agreed by the affected countries and administered by a joint task force to be established by the affected countries;

ii. The international community will take responsibility for the repatriation of the irregular migrants to their countries of origin or resettlement to third countries within a period of one year. 

4.    Role of ASEAN

The Ministers called on ASEAN to play an active role in addressing the issue in an effective and timely manner, in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity.  The Ministers further recommended the convening of an emergency meeting by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime to address the crisis at hand.  They welcomed ASEAN’s initiative to establish a regional framework to address trafficking in persons as well as provide assistance to victims through the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons.

Putrajaya

20 May 2015