Thailand 'happy to cooperate', but Army plays dumb on detainees

Thailand would cooperate with the United Nations on the controversial Rohingya boat people but only on the govern¬ment's conditions, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has sought access to 126 Rohingya boat people believed to be held on Sai Daeng Island in the Andaman Sea.

However, the military told the Foreign Ministry yesterday it had "no clear information" about refugees in its custody that the UN wants to talk to.

Prime Minister Abhisit said: "We are glad to work with inter¬national....