The transfer of 41 Thai citizens, caught in the crossfire of conflicts between the Myanmar military and ethnic rebel groups in Laukkai, a frontier town straddling China and Myanmar, is anticipated to occur today. This news was confirmed by no less than the prime minister himself. This group of Thais is part of a larger contingency of 164 Thai citizens, who were heroically extricated by Myanmar officials from the clutches of illicit employment and human smuggling rings.
During a sojourn to the vibrant city of San Francisco, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin enlightened representatives of the press on Tuesday, sometime around 4pm in the American Pacific Time Zone, about the judicious plans of the Defence Ministry. The ultimate goal – to reunite these citizens with their homeland from Tachileik, a Myanmar frontier town – by today, November 16, or if fate so dictates, no later than Friday. The Third Army Area is scheduled to shed light on this monumental repatriation effort in a press briefing pencilled in for Thursday.
In a revelation made on Wednesday, Chai Wacharonke, the voice of the government, disclosed that the Thai military has forged a dynamic partnership with the United Wa State Army through the medium of the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC). This collaboration intends to facilitate the safe evacuation of these stranded Thai citizens to the Kengtung state in Myanmar, as reported by the reputable Bangkok Post.
Unfortunately, a cohort of 60 Thai individuals still await their turn for aid from local command to reach Laukkai before they can start their journey home to Thailand. As per Chai’s proclamations, the Myanmar military has orchestrated plans to shepherd these 41 Thai citizens to the Tachileik border town either today or at the latest, by Friday. The Thai unit of the TBC is subsequently expected to facilitate their homebound journey to Thailand via the Mae Sai border district in Chiang Rai.
Meanwhile, intense conversations and coordination are under way between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar, and China. The objective – to hasten the return of the remaining Thai citizens marooned in Laukkai. Chai further divulged that the Defence Ministry is working hand in hand with various state agencies to keep a keen eye on the situation and blueprint a rescue strategy for the Thais caught in the bind in Laukkai. Echoing the sentiments of the prime minister, Chai stated, “The premier has charged the state agencies with the delivery of coordination and assistance to Thais in Myanmar, exerting maximum effort.”
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