Thai security forces arrested 33 illegal migrants from Myanmar in a forest in Sangkhla Buri district of the western province of Kanchanaburi today (Sunday).

 

The Lat Ya Special Task Force said that the group slipped across the porous natural border, from Myanmar’s Mawlamyine province, with the help of a Myanmar-based human trafficking ring, and took shelter in the forest at Khao Singto, in Sangkhla Buri, waiting to be picked up by a Thai human trafficking gang, working in collusion with their Myanmar counterparts.

 

The illegal migrants arrested – 26 men and 7 women – were, however, intercepted by Thai border forces and taken into custody.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/33-illegal-migrants-from-myanmar-arrested-in-kanchanaburi-province/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-10

 

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The question would be if they claimed asylum would Thailand risk the wrath of the world by deporting them back ? 

I'm more concerned how 33 people can not only cross an (admittedly) porous border but also get 50-100km into Thailand.

We are constantly being told the army has increased surveillance and sealed/is patrolling the border, to prevent covid getting into Thailand.

Gooooood. Keep arresting them and sending them home. This is how covid returned.

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I'm more concerned how 33 people can not only cross an (admittedly) porous border but also get 50-100km into Thailand.

We are constantly being told the army has increased surveillance and sealed/is patrolling the border, to prevent covid getting into Thailand.

And no mention of the Thai smugglers being caught?

A "Google Earth" view of that border illustrates how easy it would be to cross into Thailand undetected and even quite a long way in.

But in the knowledge that the trafficking is assisted from Thailand the penalties for doing so should be a mandatory life sentence regardless of degree of involvement for every person caught.

Problematic is the genuine desire to catch.

 

We already have the B117 UK strain reeking havoc making up 98% of cases in Thailand. 

 

These Burmese bringing the double mutant Indian variant is the last thing we need currently.

53 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I'm more concerned how 33 people can not only cross an (admittedly) porous border but also get 50-100km into Thailand.

We are constantly being told the army has increased surveillance and sealed/is patrolling the border, to prevent covid getting into Thailand.

And no mention of the Thai smugglers being caught?

Aren't they supposed to slip away in the confusion?

I live about 40 Km from the 3 Pagodas Border in Kanchanaburi, in a village that is predominately Myanmar/Laos people. Many have annual renewals same as us but I am pretty sure there are many here with no papers.

 

The local villlage chief just today on his tannoy announcement told everyone to look out for new faces and to tell him if they do. Many will head to their families homes and we know where that can end.

 

Apart from the general worry of contracting covid, this adds another reason to seriously stay home for me now. Still go for daily (masked) walks around the vilage but rely again as last year, on mail order supplies outside what can be bought locally (pork, pork and pork!).

 

Regular reports like this on Kanchanaburi Immigration FB page for some time now.

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The question would be if they claimed asylum would Thailand risk the wrath of the world by deporting them back ? 

It is really a two edged sword.

Are they really refugees? Yes, they have to work to eat. But are they just fleeing the murderers now in charge in Burma?

So, come as refugees and get turned back at the border.

Come as migrants and get arrested.

Yes, some will bring Covid  but let us not forget that this current and more deadly outbreak was started by the 'high people' in Thailand at illegal, expensive brothels, bars and discos.

We cannot blame the Burmese for today's cokkup.

My Thai family in Bangkok is very concerned with illegal aliens in Thailand, as who knows what their

health status is.  If they are in Bangkok they ride the buses and BTS and mix in with the general population,

who are trying to stay safe, but go back and forth to work as well.

  It is dangerous times in Thailand, and no one wants it to become like India.  Good Luck to all.

Geezer

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Yes, some will bring Covid  but let us not forget that this current and more deadly outbreak was started by the 'high people' in Thailand at illegal, expensive brothels, bars and discos.

We cannot blame the Burmese for today's cokkup.

But the virus, and the new mutants, still came into Thailand from abroad.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

33 illegal migrants from Myanmar

 For reference in today's (10 May) Cambodian press:-

 

"Five recent  Covid-19 imports from neighbouring countries have underscored the danger of the virus being brought into Thailand by illegal border crossers, authorities. The (Thailand's) Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday said the five cases were all Thais who sneaked back into the country without passing through border checkpoints.

Two illegally crossed the border to Sa Kaeo from Cambodia on Thursday, while another two returned from Malaysia on April 28 and last Monday, respectively. One Thai slipped into Tak from Myanmar on May 2. All were admitted to state hospitals.

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50854077/infected-thais-sneaking-back-across-cambodian-border-worry-authorities/

 

Let's hope they did not infect other people before hospitalization.

9 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I'm more concerned how 33 people can not only cross an (admittedly) porous border but also get 50-100km into Thailand.

We are constantly being told the army has increased surveillance and sealed/is patrolling the border, to prevent covid getting into Thailand.

 

We're also constantly being told a lot of stuff by the government that's supposed to fill us with faith and confidence in their abilities to keep everyone safe.

 

Same monkeys, different circus.

Who in their right mind would stay in Myanmar these days???