Activity on border after Myanmar regime’s defeat by army groups
Attention has been focused on the Mae Sod border, which connects Thailand and Myanmar, after authorities in the Myanmar government asked to land in the area after its recent defeat by anti-government army groups.
According to multiple reports by Thai-language media, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked for permission from Thailand to land an ATR 72-600 plane in Mae Sot district, Tak province, on Sunday.
The request was reportedly filed so as to pick up its officials, together with their families, who may have fled from Myawaddy after the defeat of the military government’s troops in the area by revolutionary groups, including the Karen National Union (KNU) and the People's Defence Force.
Those fleeing were reported to have tried to enter Thailand through the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge. However, they later surrendered to anti-government groups. Most of them are police officers, immigration officers, and court officials.
Reports showed that the plane arrived in Mae Sot at around 9pm on Sunday and stayed for an hour before flying back as no refugees showed up. They were believed to be still in the custody of the groups’ troops.
Contradicting media reports, Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee on Monday said the Myanmar plane flew to Thailand only to transport goods, not to evacuate fleeing citizens.
Meanwhile, MP Kannavee Suebsang of the opposition Fair Party said on his Facebook page that Thailand should send surrendered Myanmar citizens back to their homeland as requested.
However, he said that if any individuals demanded not to be repatriated for security reasons, Thailand also has the authority to reject the request.
According to Kannavee, the number of people fleeing includes 469 surrendered Myanmar military soldiers, 67 officers, and 81 members of their families. They are all set to be sent back by Wednesday, he said.
Kannavee, who worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) before entering politics, urged the Thai government to impose a safety zone area within 5 kilometres from the Thai border as well as impose standard operating procedures (SOPs) in this regard to war refugees.
According to reports as of writing, the situation around the border is still peaceful; people were crossing borders as usual and no explosions or gunfire were heard.
