The Thai and Burmese governments are being urged to find a solution to the problem of identifying and repatriating the bodies of Burmese migrant workers killed in Thailand during the December 2004 tsunami.

Burmese authorities have yet to confirm the nationalities of up to 60 bodies that have been successfully identified as being Burmese, meaning they can not be returned to their relatives.

Pol Col Khemmarin Hassasiri of Thailand Tsunami Victim Identification said: “I understand the Burmese government, because most of victims [are known by] just their first name, no surname or other details. So, it’s difficult to confirm that they are Burmese.”

“We cannot return any bodies at this time. We have to discuss [the situation with] the Burmese authorities again,” Khemmarin said. “They have asked us to send a name list, but the problem is we don’t have enough details about the victims. So they [are unable] to confirm their nationality.”

“Recently, some bodies have been identified by relatives,” said Nassir Achwin, coordinator of the Bangkok-based Thai Action Committee for Democracy of Burma. Achwin added that many of those identified had been registered with the Foreign Labor Department, and families were now just waiting for authorization to claim the bodies.

A forum comprising NGO representatives and Thai officials will meet in Bangkok tomorrow to try to speed up the identification and repatriation process.