Indonesia, Australia talk trade, illegal migrants The Associated Press ,  Sydney, Australia   |  Thu, 02/19/2009 12:13 PM  |  World Foreign ministers of Indonesia and Australia stressed the importance Thursday of cooperating to halt the flow of illegal immigrants throughout their region, and expressed concern about the plight of boat people from Myanmar. The matters will be addressed at an upcoming ministerial meeting of the Bali Process, an Asia-Pacific body against people-trafficking, the ministers said. "Effective solutions to this problem must involve countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters after bilateral meetings with counterpart Stephen Smith. Illegal migrants from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan regularly use Indonesia as a springboard to Australia, cramming into tiny boats and often being detained or turned back at sea by Indonesian or Australian authorities. Under a bilateral agreement, Indonesia has agreed to extradite suspected people smugglers to Australia for trial. Smith said the Bali Process was a main part of the bilateral talks, as was the issue of Myanmar refugees known as Rohingyas. About 400 Rohingyas, a persecuted Muslim group from Myanmar, have found their way to Indonesia by sea this year. The refugees claim that Thai authorities beat them and set them adrift at sea after they had fled abuse in Myanmar. Thailand has repeatedly denied the accusations. Wirajuda said Thailand would attend the Bali Process ministerial meeting, which is expected to be held in April or May. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/19/indonesia-australia-talk-trade-illegal-migrants.html