Foreign Ministry expedites efforts to bring Thais back from Myanmar conflict zone
The Foreign Ministry is calling on relevant agencies to expedite the evacuation of Thai citizens from Myanmar’s Laukkaing region, where conflicts between government and rebel groups are escalating.
The ministry’s permanent secretary called a meeting on Saturday morning with agencies to discuss the issue and coordinate relief measures for stranded Thai citizens.
However, the situation presents many challenges due to the ongoing clashes.
Currently, 293 Thai citizens are in Myanmar, and those who are ready to be repatriated can be categorised as follows:
• 164 people under the care of Myanmar authorities
• 18 people working in entertainment venues who have expressed a desire to return home
• 32 people who have been released by their employers and are being kept in a safe area waiting to join the larger group
The remaining Thais include:
• 53 who have not been released by their employers
• 26 who cannot be reached.
Separately, reports indicate that some 41 Thais were released by their employers in Laukkaing and have taken refuge in areas under the control of the United Wa State Army.
Meanwhile, the Thai embassy in Yangon is actively coordinating efforts to retrieve these individuals and exploring secure routes for their safe return.
A bomb explosion on Friday near where the Thais are believed to be seeking refuge has heightened concerns about their well-being. The Thai embassy, meanwhile, is actively seeking permission to enter the area, aiming to assess the condition of the citizens and facilitate the issuance of travel documents.
However, Myanmar authorities have not yet granted access, citing security reasons. This has prompted the embassy to resort to nationality verification via video calls for document issuance.
