By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE GOVERNMENT WAS PRESSED today (Jan.18) to get prepared for a probable influx of refugees fleeing fighting across the border from the war-torn Myanmar where many townships have reportedly been seized by armed ethnic rebels.
During a weekly interpellation at parliament, Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome called on the Pheu Thai-led government in general and the National Security Council in particular to review their standard operating procedure for the handling of refugees anticipated to scramble en masse across the Thai-Myanmar border as strife between Tatmadaw government forces and armed ethnic rebel groups inside Myanmar have reportedly been prolonged and escalated.
According to the Move Forward MP, Thailand is currently capable of receiving no more than 75,000 refugees whilst hundreds of thousands more would probably escape across the border into Tak’s border districts and elsewhere along the 2,400-kilometre-long shared border.
Thailand today is home to an estimated 96,000 refugees from Myanmar, mostly being provided shelter in Mae Sot district of Tak and Mae Sariang district of Mae Hong Son, according to Move Forward MP Tisana Choonhavan.
Some 87,000 of the total refugees, mostly being Karen and Kayah ethnic villagers, are sheltered from harm in nine refugee camps in Mae Sot and the 9,000 others in refugee camps in Mae Sariang.
Nevertheless, Rangsiman said, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has not done enough to acquire assistance for those refugees from the international community though he has gone on several trips abroad since he rose to power last August.
Tisana insisted that the Pheu Thai-led government practically comply with the internationally recognized principles of basic human rights for refugees in effort to provide humanitarian aid and combat any bribe-taking government officials who may have allegedly preyed on them.
The refugees’ living conditions and medical care had been very poor as many had been left unattended by the authorities in charge of the refugee camps, the Move Forward MP said.
Meanwhile, Tisana quoted villagers of Umpang district in Tak as saying Tatmadaw government troops had recently invaded Thai territory in the northwestern border area during armed conflict with Karen National Union rebels in Karen state.
In June, 2022, the Myanmar air force’s MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter intruded into Thai airspace in Popphra district across the border from Myawaddy township for about 15 minutes, prompting a couple of the Thai air force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon jets from Takhli air base to scramble to the scene, albeit in belated fashion.
Rangsiman suggested that refugees be given the opportunity to legally apply for jobs in Thailand and their children who were born in the host country be naturalised as Thais.
He insisted that the government take stringent, sustained measures against human trafficking rackets preying on those refugees anywhere throughout the country.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A representative image of refugees coming to Thailand and parliamentary debate. Credit: Matichon
Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome speaking at Parliament today, insert, and a file photo of him, Front Page. Photo on this page: Manager Online, and on Front Page: Matichon Weekly
Front Page: Some Myanmar refugees who fled to Thailand last year. Photo: Matichon
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