Thailand will not turn away Myanmar refugees

BANGKOK: Thailand will allow refugees who flee across the border from Myanmar into the country on humanitarian grounds, said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o Cha.

He said last week’s army air strikes against the Karen National Union (KNU) sent ethnic Karen civilians fleeing across the border into Thailand.

According to the Bangkok Post, many crossed the riverbank and stayed there, too afraid to return home.

“We will not turn them away. When they are in trouble, we will not deny them entry into our country.

“However, this does not mean we will declare our intention to allow them in with open arms,” said Prayuth.

Asked on reports that some refugees were denied entry at the border, Prayuth said that it was necessary for authorities to enforce requirements for legal entry.

“If there is a war, that’s another scenario. In the event the situation escalates, leading to deaths and injuries, the government will put in place measures to deal with an influx,” he said.

“We have years of experience, with nine refugee centres sheltering more than 400,000 people,” he added.

The prime minister said the government would send them back when the situation across the border was deemed safe.

Thailand already hosts about 100,000 refugees from Myanmar at camps along the border.

Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai said that the situation in Myanmar would be raised at the Asean meeting in Brunei next month.

Don echoed the prime minister’s view, saying that Thailand would help refugees from Myanmar temporarily on humanitarian grounds but that they should return home when the situation there improved.

He urged Myanmar leaders to de-escalate violence in the country and bring the situation under control swiftly.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat told the press: “It is Thailand’s policy not to push back anyone fleeing from fighting in Myanmar.

Some have been allowed back voluntarily as they have depleted food supplies they brought from their villages across the border in Myanmar.

“They often stay a few days until they are convinced that it is safe to return. These are mostly ethnic Karen.”

The influx of refugees started last week after the Myanmar army bombed territory controlled by the KNU.

About 3,000 Karen people fled across the border to Thailand.

They crossed the Salween River and were staying at tambon Mae Sam Laep in Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son province.

The air attacks began after the KNU joined protests against the military coup.

The union fighters also blocked food deliveries to government soldiers in Papun district of Karen state, according to The Irrawaddy.

According to sources, soldiers from the 36th Ranger Regiment on Monday sent about 500 Karen people across the Salween River back to Myanmar.