Pausing for a moment to capture their journey in a collective snapshot, 23 Thai men, members of a larger group of 41 stranded compatriots in Myanmar, underscore the human resolve to overcome adversity. Evacuated from the beleaguered Laukkaing to the sanctuary of Kengtung amidst military confrontations, these civilian survivors are eager for their impending repatriation to Thai soil.
As reported by the 3rd Army Region’s Pha Muang Force, the group of thirty men and eleven women arrived in Kengtung late Wednesday night, after escaping the tumultuous northeastern region of Myanmar. Patiently they wait en route to the country they call home, braving the ordeal with undaunted spirit.
The plan of action following their arrival in Kengtung, as of Thursday morning, involves carrying out all necessary legal formalities. Thereafter, they will be directed towards the Mak Yang border checkpoint in Tachilek, tucked away in Myanmar’s border town. Here, they are to be cordially greeted by Col Natee Thomsen, the commander of the Thap Chao Tak Taskforce of the Pha Muang Force, and participant of the Thailand-Myanmar township border committee (TBC).
From Tachilek, a journey across the symbolic 2nd Friendship Bridge above the tranquil Mae Sai River awaits the group in transit. Their destination is Mae Sai district, their first footsteps back onto Thai soil waiting just beyond the border. The path ahead then takes them to the Meng Rai Maharat military camp in Chiang Rai, a stronghold of the 3rd Army Region.
In this secure facility, they will proceed through a screening designed to identify any communicable diseases that they may have contracted during their ordeal. Comprehensive immigration procedures will then be completed, followed by a warm welcome from officials of the Social Development and Human Securities department. The rendezvous with their waiting relatives, an emotional reunion embodying the end of their forced exile, comes next on the agenda.
In continuation of their mission, the Thai army pledges collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies in ensuring the safe return of the additional 246 stranded Thais in Laukkaing.
On another front, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn announced that he had engaged in morning discussions with Chinese officials of the Public Security Ministry. The objective is to enable the evacuation of Thai nationals from Laukkaing through a secure Chinese route, an indication that the stranded Thais are still in safe condition.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reassured the home front that the Ministry of Defence is endeavouring to expedite the repatriation of 41 of these Thais from Tachilek by the week’s end. In relation to this, government spokesman Chai Wacharongke confirmed that efforts had been coordinated with the United Wa State Army via the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC). Their mutual endeavour will facilitate the safe transition of these Thais to Kengtung.
The human dimension to this diplomatic enterprise becomes apparent as the group brings to mind the remaining 123 compatriots. Either victims of human trafficking networks or lured into working in unlawful call centres, they too were rescued by the Myanmar authorities in their efforts to clamp down on such nefarious activities. The voices of these survivors bear witness to the ongoing resolve of authorities in combating these criminal undertakings.
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