Myanmar Rohingya crisis panel head says its credibility intact despite Richardson's departure

Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai foreign minister and Chairman of the new Rakhine State Advisory Board gestures during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand February 1, 2018. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The head of an international panel set up by Myanmar to advise on its Rohingya Muslim crisis, after hundreds of thousands fled the country in fear for their lives, said its credibility was intact despite the departure of its most prominent member.

Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai foreign minister, told Reuters in Bangkok on Thursday that the panel's remaining nine members would draw on their experience to advise on how to act on recommendations of an earlier commission headed by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.