Over 5,000 Laotians returning home after Bangkok shuts some businesses

By The Nation

 

 

More than 3,000 Laotians from Bangkok were travelling through the 2nd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Mukdahan province today (March 23), after the Thai capital temporarily closed down some businesses to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. The border checkpoint will be closed tomorrow.

 

Mukdahan Governor Chayan Sirimas reported that 3,000-4,000 Laotians requested to return to Savannakhet province in Laos.

 

As the number of returnees increased, provincial officials were making them undergo a health check-up before allowing them to pass.

 

Officials have also had to bring in food and water as the queue has got longer.

 

All buses crossing the border were disinfected before taking on passengers.

 

Meanwhile, in Ubon Ratchathani, 2,000 Laotians were allowed to travel home after passing a health check-up. Officials announced on Saturday that this border checkpoint would be closed today.

 

Nine people from Ubon Ratchathani got infected with Covid-19 after visiting a boxing stadium and entertainment venues in Bangkok.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384666

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-23

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5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

after the Thai capital temporarily closed down some businesses to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.

How can they write this?

I assume what they mean is to prevent it spreading within Bangkok. Laotians returning home and Thais returning from Bangkok to their home provinces will facilitate its spreading.

 

More lack of critical thinking by government. Everyone must have gone to state school where they are discouraged from thinking.

21 hours ago, bluesofa said:

How can they write this?

I assume what they mean is to prevent it spreading within Bangkok. Laotians returning home and Thais returning from Bangkok to their home provinces will facilitate its spreading.

 

More lack of critical thinking by government. Everyone must have gone to state school where they are discouraged from thinking.

For the thousands of Laotians employed as migrant labour in Bangkok and elsewhere, there was not really an alternative other then to head home, once their jobs were ended.  They were only legally in Thailand because of work, so once the work ended they had no choice but to leave, unless the government announced they could stay indefinitely.  But even then, how would they be able to pay for rent and food if they're not working?  Thailand doesn't offer much welfare to its own citizens - so foreigners are not going to get anything.

 

It's tragically sad for Laos (and the other neighboring countries facing the same issue) but not the fault of the people going home.

Edited March 24, 20206 yr by brewsterbudgen