18-11-2023 (BANGKOK) Forty-one Thai nationals, who were stranded in northern Myanmar due to the intensifying clashes between junta troops and armed ethnic-minority groups near the Chinese border, have safely returned to Thailand on Saturday (Nov 18), according to the Thai army. The ongoing conflict in Myanmar, following the military coup in 2021, has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of individuals as the military government combats a coordinated offensive launched by an alliance comprising three ethnic-minority groups and pro-democracy fighters.
The repatriation of the 41 Thais was facilitated through coordination between Thai authorities and the Myanmar army at the Tachileik-Mae Sai border crossing in Shan State, as confirmed in a statement by the Thai army. Additionally, Thai authorities are actively working to rescue and bring back at least 264 Thai citizens who remain trapped near Laukkai city.
Thai officials have expressed concerns that some of those stranded in Myanmar may have fallen victim to human trafficking, while others could be associated with telecoms fraud gangs. Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, has unfortunately become a hotspot for telecoms and online fraud, as highlighted by the United Nations. Criminal networks exploit hundreds of thousands of individuals, forcing them into labor in scam centers and other illegal online operations.
The offensive, codenamed “Operation 1027” after its launch date, has posed the biggest challenge to the junta in years. The alliance of ethnic-minority groups has successfully captured numerous towns and military posts throughout Myanmar, asserting control over parts of the country’s northern regions along the Chinese border. The situation remains highly volatile as violence continues to escalate in the area.
