Thai navy step up air and sea watch at Andaman Sea for fleeing Rohingya

BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) have stepped up air and sea surveillance at the Andaman Sea for the possible influx of Rohingya boat people fleeing violence in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine State.
According to RTN's Third Region, the end of the monsoon season in the Andaman Sea also marked a return of calmer seas and would see the increasing possibility of migration by the Rohingya boat people.
"We are following the fighting in Rakhine State, the situation in Rakhine State as it could lead to migration.
Patrols will be more frequent although there are no reports of migration (of Rohingya)," said its commander Vice Admiral Surapol Kutaphan to local media here, today.
He said naval vessels and surveillance aircrafts would keep an eye on any unusual movement.
Thousands of Rohingya in Rakhine State, near Bangladesh border fled their villages in recent weeks due to violent acts allegedly perpertrated by Myanmar's security forces.
International humanitarian groups claimed hundreds of Rohingyas were killed in the current cycle of violence. — AFP