BANGKOK, March 6 — Thailand is set to repatriate 1,500 people freed from alleged job scam syndicates in Myanmar each week.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said thousands remain stranded in camps along the Thai-Myanmar border following their rescue.
Thailand has reached an agreement with Myanmar and China to facilitate the repatriation process. The agreement followed a recent meeting involving Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Chinese Assistant Minister for Public Security Liu Zhongyi, and Myanmar’s Deputy Home Affairs Minister Aung Kyaw Kyaw.
"Thailand plans to repatriate 1,500 people per week, or 300 each weekday, with regular repatriations of Chinese nationals taking place every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday," he told the press today.
Nikorndej added that repatriations on Monday and Tuesday will focus on other foreign nationals, including Africans, and the ministry is coordinating with foreign embassies to ensure "immediate" repatriations.
China and Indonesia have already repatriated some of their citizens from Myawaddy with assistance from Thai authorities.
He said that thousands remain stranded along the Thai-Myanmar border, including individuals from African nations that lack diplomatic representation in Thailand.
"For countries without a local diplomatic mission, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has been in contact with accredited embassies or directly with the respective capitals.
"It is up to the receiving government to decide whether to send officials from their embassies to Thailand or dispatch representatives from their capitals," Nikorndej said.
He urged countries repatriating their citizens from Myawaddy to send officials to the Thai-Myanmar border to facilitate the process, which includes disease screening and immigration checks.
When asked about the nationalities of the individuals to be repatriated from Myawaddy, Nikorndej said he would not have access to the list until the group arrived in Thailand.
Last month, 260 foreigners, including 15 Malaysians, were rescued from alleged call centre syndicates in Myawaddy, Myanmar. They were released by Myanmar authorities and sent to Thailand for deportation.
— Bernama
