With Myanmar military jets bombing the Karen ‘State’ in Myanmar, thousands of refugees from Myanmar belonging to the Karen ethnic group are now moving into their neighbouring country in the south – Thailand.
While at a time when India has decided to shut its doors on the refugees from Myanmar who are fleeing into neighbouring countries to evade Myanmar military’s crackdown, Thailand has decided to welcome them with open arms.
Personnel of the Thailand Army have been providing the refugees from Myanmar food, shelter and adequate security.
“Thai authorities will continue to look after those on the Thai side while assessing the evolving situation and the needs on the ground,” Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said.
Tanee Sangrat also denied reports that the people of Karen ethnic group from Myanmar were pushed back.
“The reports of Karens being pushed back into Myanmar are inaccurate,” Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Thailand – Prayuth Chan-ocha said that his Government was prepared to accept refugees from Myanmar.
He also rebuffed claims that Thailand was supporting Myanmar’s junta.
Thailand’s Army also released photos of them helping injured refugees from Myanmar.
Some of the refugees from Myanmar are from the Karen ‘State’ bordering Thailand, who crossed over due to violence and air strikes by Myanmar military.
Also read: UN calls for united global front to pressurise Myanmar’s military dictatorship
Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for a united global forum to pressurise the military dictatorship in Myanmar.
UN Secretary General – Antonio Guterres urged the Myanmar authorities to undertake a “serious democratic transition”.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to see violence against people at such high levels, so many people killed,” Antonio Guterres said while briefing the media.
“We need more unity… (and) more commitment from the international community to put pressure in order to make sure that the situation is reversed,” he said.
More than 500 people have been killed in the Myanmar Military’s brutal crackdown on anti-coup protestors, a local monitoring group said.
The UN Security Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation, after Britain called for emergency talks.