Thailand To Accommodate Villagers Fleeing From Myanmar

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, April 28 (Bernama) -- Thailand will accommodate villagers from Myanmar’s southeastern Karen state fleeing to Thailand at temporary shelters following attacks at Myanmar army outpost near the Thai border on Tuesday. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tanee Sangrat said the relevant security agencies will accommodate them under procedures managed by the military with COVID-19 screening as per disease control standards and public health measures in the kingdom. “If the unrest persists and the fighting intensifies, it is planned that they will be relocated to a shelter area one kilometer away from the border with basic humanitarian needs provided including food, water, and medicine. “Further necessary support will be rendered by both public and private charity entities,” he said in a statement following the skirmishes between Myanmar security forces and armed factions operating in the areas adjacent to the Thai-Myanmar borders. On Tuesday at 5 am (local time), the Karen National Union (KNU) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched attacks on a Myanmar military outpost on the opposite side of Mae Sam Laep Village in Sop Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province. Media reports said it was some of the most intense clashes since a military coup on Feb 1 with KNU sources saying the troops later recaptured the Burmese military camp with air strikes. KNU is Myanmar's oldest rebel force. Thai authorities also confirmed an aerial attack took place in Myanmar opposite Salween National Park but there was no word on casualties. However, Tanee said the incident necessitated 250 Thai residents from Mae Sam Laep Village to flee for safety to Ban Huai Kong Kad in the Mae Hong Son Province. The local authorities and security forces had already rendered assistance to the said group of Thais. The fighting on Tuesday took place after ASEAN leaders met at its Secretariat in Jakarta on Saturday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. The meeting on the weekend with the Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had reached a consensus to end violence and promote dialogues between the rival Myanmar sides. Myanmar’s State Administration Council said it would “positively” consider suggestions made by ASEAN leaders during the meeting when the stability returns. It said priorities at the moment were to maintain law and order, and to restore community peace and tranquility. Myanmar has been going through upheaval since armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing on Feb 1 ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, with security forces killing more than 750 anti-coup protesters since then. -- BERNAMA