Thailand braces for influx of 100,000 Myanmar refugees

[webfact]

 

The escalating conflict in Myanmar has prompted Thailand to prepare for the potential influx of 100,000 displaced individuals, as stated by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara.

 

The announcement came before a Thai Cabinet meeting aimed at discussing the intensifying situation in their neighbouring country. Parnpree urged all parties involved in the conflict to pursue peace negotiations.

 

Currently, Myanmar is grappling with an uprising against its military junta, with several towns and military posts, including significant sections of a key border town with Thailand, falling under the control of anti-junta groups.

 

These groups are backed by a parallel pro-democracy government. This uprising represents the most formidable challenge faced by the Myanmar junta since they overthrew the elected government in 2021.

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed concern over the situation.

“The situation in Myanmar is crucial to Thailand.”

The 62 year old Thai prime minister assured that his government was promoting collaboration from all parties to restore peace and stability in the region. In a recent interview with Reuters, PM Srettha suggested that the current weakening of the Myanmar regime could present an opportune moment to initiate peace talks.

 

Last week, the Myanmar military’s credibility was potentially undermined when anti-junta forces launched coordinated drone attacks on military facilities in the country’s capital.

 

Thailand, which shares a 2,000-kilometre border with Myanmar, has been actively engaging with the latter since the Bangkok-born Srettha assumed office in August of the previous year.

 

This includes providing aid under a humanitarian initiative aimed at fostering dialogue between the conflicting parties.

 

In a recent seminar on Myanmar’s political predicament attended by Thai lawmakers, opponents of the Myanmar military made appearances, despite the objections of the junta.

 

In related news, the Government of Myanmar recently filed a request with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking clearance for evacuation flights to land in the Mae Sot district of Tak.

 

The motive behind this request is the evacuation of 617 military officers and their dependents, who are expected to flee Myawaddy, a city now under the control of rebel ethnic forces.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of Care.org

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-10

 

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[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The motive behind this request is the evacuation of 617 military officers and their dependents, who are expected to flee Myawaddy, a city now under the control of rebel ethnic forces.

I don't want to be pedantic but if these 617 are in Myawaddy, and the city is now under the control of rebels, it is a bit late to try and flee.

 

As far as I can make out the Government forces artillery base, which provide covering fire over the city and its approaches has been captured by Karen rebels. Add to this, due to the air force being unable to operate because of the threat from rebel anti aircraft missile systems, and the result is that probably the garrisons in Myawaddy are now pinned down in their bases. The 617 which the Junta want out, are in these bases. Their hope is that as part of a negotiated capitulation they will be allowed into Thailand, and flown out.

[Callmeishmael]

I think that the refugee problem is not a government vs rebels problem, it will be more that Burma will probably fragment into several areas that are controlled by different ethnic separatist movements.  Ethnic Burmese or other minority groups will probably leave those areas and head to Thailand.

Edited April 10 by Callmeishmael

[retarius]

Great news for Thailand. Lots of cheap labour willing to grow the Thai economy and increase growth while asking only 1070s rates for their Labour. They need to pass a ban however against any remittances in Baht to Myanmar.

On another note the poor people in the photo don't look mad pleased to be welcomed here. But beggars can't be choosers can then. 

(Cynical satire) 

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Bangkok-born Srettha assumed office in August of the previous year.

Yep Assumed office not voted in, in a democratic way.

[Digitalbanana]

Countries like China and Thailand are funding the illegal Myanmar junta with the spoils of the energy sector to feed their own greedy nations. This is off the blood of innocent oppressed Myanmar citizens. Until these two foreign countries sort their act out, they will pay the price of the refugee crisis - probably with small change from their energy gains, but the loss of reputation will linger much longer.

Edited April 10 by Digitalbanana

[Digitalbanana]

26 minutes ago, retarius said:

On another note the poor people in the photo don't look mad pleased to be welcomed here.

The photo is not even related to the story, its of another Myanmar junta atrocity on the other side of the country.

[Excogitator]

Hopefully the pro-democracy freedom-fighters will triumph this time around. The Myanmar-junta is truly one of the nastiest regimes of the modern age, deserving only of the garbage heap of history..

[ChipButty]

In that photo they look more like Rohingya people, Burmese have been escaping across the boarder for a while, I was told the other week it's 20,000 baht to get to Bangkok

[john donson]

i hope the army for once do their job, protect the border and escort them to a muslim country...

[IAMHERE]

How many of the future refugees are gonna be ex-junta & relatives of such?

 

I myself would like to see Thailand claim a bit of Burma for themselves, part of that strip of land bordering the sea would do nicely.

[zhounan]

More refugees mean more cheap peasants for Sino-Thai élite.

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

The escalating conflict in Myanmar has prompted Thailand to prepare for the potential influx of 100,000 displaced individuals, as stated by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara.

Thailand needs the workers.