Thais working in Myawaddy seek to return home

By The Nation

 

Apichet Suesat

 

Some 200 Thais working in casinos across the border in Myanmar, along with some who have crossed over illegally for work or to gamble are now asking to return home, 3rd Army commander Lt-General Apichet Suesat said.

 

Apichet is in charge of the northern region.

 

He said close to 400 Thais and foreigners working in casinos in Myanmar’s Myawaddy district have applied to return to Thailand. So far, only 75 of them have been allowed across officially, of whom 35 tested positive for Covid-19.

 

Meanwhile, three to five people are arrested daily for crossing the border illegally. So far, 52 of the arrested illegal crossers have tested positive.

 

“Rumours that the Army is involved in human trafficking is false. In Mae Sai, the military caught illegal border crossers with help from locals. But that is also where rumours began. So, in the case of Thais wanting to cross over from Myawaddy, they will have to contact officials in Tak province themselves,” he said.

 

He added that only 120 beds were available, which is not enough to accommodate everyone wanting to cross over.

 

Hence, he said, local officials need to find an area to build a field hospital first in case the number of infected returnees exceeds the number of beds available.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401101

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-12

 

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More Casino workers it appears.  I would never have guessed this many work in the Casino industry in Cambodia, and Myanmar.  Wonder how many have gone to the Philippines or even Macau for work.

 

Seems like a very high percentage are testing positive for Covid upon their return, albeit the number has been limited.

Is he not a bit overweight to be a soldier? I have seen many overweight policemen, but overweight soldiers??