Thai Army denies forcing fleeing Myanmar villagers back into conflict zone
The Thai military and governor in the border province of Mae Hong Son have denied reports they are forcibly repatriating fleeing Myanmar nationals into a conflict zone at the request of Myanmar’s military regime.
The Naresuan Task Force, responsible for border security, insisted on Tuesday that Myanmar nationals fleeing fighting between regime troops and ethnic Karenni forces are returning to their homes voluntarily and not being pushed back, as alleged by Kandarawadi news agency.
The local agency recently reported that the junta is pressuring Thai authorities to force displaced people at a temporary camp in Ban Mai Nai Soi village in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district to return to their homes in Daw Hnoe Ku village across the border.
It alleged that the junta pressed for their forcible repatriation after a foreign reporter interviewed the camp residents and found that some were members of the Karenni People’s Defence Force, an armed resistance group.
The news agency said Thai authorities ordered the camp’s leader to take his people back to Myanmar within two weeks or all of them would be moved to the refugee camp in Tak.
The Naresuan Task Force said that a total of 5,748 displaced people have returned from Mae Hong Son to Myanmar since June.
Another 4,187 displaced Myanmar nationals are now living in five temporary camps in Mae Hong Son, it added.
On Monday, Mae Hong Son governor Chettha Mosikarat backed up the Thai military’s claim, insisting that no one had been forced to return to Myanmar.
The governor however gave slightly different figures, saying 4,650 displaced people had returned to Kayah State while 4,399 are still living in the five border camps.
