Thailand to repatriate Karen villagers who fled Myanmar army

Jan 25 (TNA) – Thailand will repatriate more than 1,500 displaced Karen villagers from Myanmar along the Thai Myanmar border, a population which who escaped fierce fighting in Myanmar to Thai territory since June 2009, according to Lt-Gen Thanongsak Apirakyothin, the 3rd Army Area Commander.

Gen Thanongsak said that the meeting of Thai security agencies and representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the northern province of Tak on January 14 agreed that more than 1,500 villagers who crossed into Thailand to escape the fighting in Myanmar since mid-2009 would be sent back to Myanmar without seeking their consent.

He said there is no fighting in Myanmar, therefore, all of them would be safe when they return to their country.

Gen Thanongsak added that the government had no policy to provide additional temporary shelter for these people.

He said that the government would gradually send them back to Myanmar. (TNA)


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