Thailand ready to receive Myanmar war refugees
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Thailand ready to receive Myanmar war refugees

People's Liberation Army forces fight Myanmar junta soldiers near Sagaing Region in Myanmar on Nov 23, 2023. (Reuters photo)
People's Liberation Army forces fight Myanmar junta soldiers near Sagaing Region in Myanmar on Nov 23, 2023. (Reuters photo)

The government is ready to build shelters along the border to receive refugees in the event that fighting in Myanmar escalates further, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.

Confirming the readiness, the minister said on Sunday that the government was monitoring the situation in Myanmar and was calling all parties concerned to cease hostilities and negotiate as soon as possible.

"Under the present situation, [an influx of refugees] is unlikely. But from now on, if violence increases, there might be refugees going in all directions, not only towards Thailand," the foreign minister said.

Mr Parnpree commented that he had not received any reports of a proxy war in Myanmar.

Fighting between Myanmar government forces and ethnic troops was reported in Myawadee on Saturday and many businesspeople and cargo trucks stranded in the border town. The battlefield was about 10 kilometres from Mae Sot district of Tak province, which borders Myanmar.

Lt Gen Prasarn Saengsirirak, commander of the 3rd Army, said the ongoing situation in Myanmar were yet to have any impact on Thailand, but if refugees crossed the border, they would receive humanitarian aid.

Soldiers were standing guard to protect Thai territory and the ruling Myanmar junta was cooperatiing to prevent infringement on the kingdom, he said.

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