Border patrols at Golok River beefed up after Malaysia lockdown
Security has been tightened on the natural border with Malaysia, where a 14-day lockdown has sparked fears that more Thai migrant workers will try to sneak back into Thailand.
Patrols were beefed along 91 kilometres of the Golok River, which marks the border in Narathiwat province, after Malaysia imposed the June 1-14 lockdown. The move comes after four Thai migrant workers were arrested trying to cross the river into Narathiwat’s Su-ngai Golok district. The four workers told Thai officials they had been out of work for two months before Malaysia’s lockdown, which ended their hope of finding employment. They then decided to return to Thailand via an illegal route to evade the mandatory two-week quarantine.
Nine villages in Narathiwat’s Koh Sathon and Tak Bai districts were locked down at the end of May after Thai workers returning from Malaysia tested positive with the South African variant of coronavirus.
Health officials report the outbreak situation has improved in Koh Sathon, and some villages would be allowed to reopen on June 9 if no more infections are found.
Officials say the rate of vaccination registration in Narathiwat has also improved after early hesitancy on the part of many residents.
