ID :
149227
Mon, 11/08/2010 - 20:38
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http://m.oananews.org//node/149227
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PM: Thailand to shelter Myanmar people fleeing to Thailand for humanitarian reasons
BANGKOK, Nov 8 – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday said Thailand will help the Myanmar people fleeing to this country for humanitarian reasons following crashes between that country's armed forces and an armed Karen minority group as the problem is likely to continue for at least three months.
Mr Abhisit said Minister of Defence Prawit Wongsuwon reported to him regarding skirmishes between the Myanmar armed forces and Karen minority group and some Thai people were injured from shells which fell into Thai territory in Tak’s Mae Sot.
Fighting forced thousands of Myanmar nationals to flee to Thailand and while the Thai government said it would help them for humanitarian reasons but at the same time did not want them to be an endless burden for the country, he said.
The Thai government would like to see the Myanmar authorities restore order and will not interfere in their neighbour's internal affairs. The Thai government however does not want to see any party using Thailand as ground for assembling an armed force, the prime minister said.
"The Myanmar authorities told me during my visit to the country that they still need to close the border due to concerns over anti-Myanmar government minority groups at the Mae Sot border. Turmoil on the Myanmar side of the border is still a problem and is likely to continue for the next three months as Myanmar is worried about the post-election transition," Mr Abhisit said.
The Thai army and civil officials at the Thai-Myanmar border have learned about the problem and are on alert for fear of clashes which could affect Thai territory, he added.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general, said six people were wounded in the spillover.
The prime minister ordered the defence ministry and the interior ministry and agencies concerned to monitor the situation particularly in Mae Sot which is opposite Myanmar’s Myawaddy where clashes still occurred sporadically.
Thailand has prepared to handle 5,000 Myanmar people expected to flee to Thailand Monday night in accordance with human rights principles.
The Thai ministry of defence reported that there has been no problem in handling the situation, particularly the influx of Myanmar people into Thailand so far, Dr Panitan said.
They will be allowed to stay in restricted areas and will be sent back home when clashes end. Border reopening will be considered later when the situation eases, he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Kamthon Thawonsathit of Mae Hong Son bordering Myanmar ordered all seven district chief to monitor the situation along the border closely specially three districts where camps holding about 20,000 displaced Myanmar nationals are located.
Security officials were assigned to be strict on checking persons entering and leaving the camps and to report any irregularities to the provincial authorities immediately.
Clashes between the Myanmar armed forces and the Karen ethnic minority group occurred Monday at Myanmar border town of Myawaddy after its rare election on Sunday and shells fell into Thai territory at Mae Sot across the Moei River in the northern province of Tak. (MCOT online news)
Mr Abhisit said Minister of Defence Prawit Wongsuwon reported to him regarding skirmishes between the Myanmar armed forces and Karen minority group and some Thai people were injured from shells which fell into Thai territory in Tak’s Mae Sot.
Fighting forced thousands of Myanmar nationals to flee to Thailand and while the Thai government said it would help them for humanitarian reasons but at the same time did not want them to be an endless burden for the country, he said.
The Thai government would like to see the Myanmar authorities restore order and will not interfere in their neighbour's internal affairs. The Thai government however does not want to see any party using Thailand as ground for assembling an armed force, the prime minister said.
"The Myanmar authorities told me during my visit to the country that they still need to close the border due to concerns over anti-Myanmar government minority groups at the Mae Sot border. Turmoil on the Myanmar side of the border is still a problem and is likely to continue for the next three months as Myanmar is worried about the post-election transition," Mr Abhisit said.
The Thai army and civil officials at the Thai-Myanmar border have learned about the problem and are on alert for fear of clashes which could affect Thai territory, he added.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general, said six people were wounded in the spillover.
The prime minister ordered the defence ministry and the interior ministry and agencies concerned to monitor the situation particularly in Mae Sot which is opposite Myanmar’s Myawaddy where clashes still occurred sporadically.
Thailand has prepared to handle 5,000 Myanmar people expected to flee to Thailand Monday night in accordance with human rights principles.
The Thai ministry of defence reported that there has been no problem in handling the situation, particularly the influx of Myanmar people into Thailand so far, Dr Panitan said.
They will be allowed to stay in restricted areas and will be sent back home when clashes end. Border reopening will be considered later when the situation eases, he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Kamthon Thawonsathit of Mae Hong Son bordering Myanmar ordered all seven district chief to monitor the situation along the border closely specially three districts where camps holding about 20,000 displaced Myanmar nationals are located.
Security officials were assigned to be strict on checking persons entering and leaving the camps and to report any irregularities to the provincial authorities immediately.
Clashes between the Myanmar armed forces and the Karen ethnic minority group occurred Monday at Myanmar border town of Myawaddy after its rare election on Sunday and shells fell into Thai territory at Mae Sot across the Moei River in the northern province of Tak. (MCOT online news)
