Thailand’s Prayuth Chan-ocha tells UN envoy he will not force back Myanmar refugees
- Prime Minister Prayuth told Schraner Burgener that Thailand has prepared several areas to shelter refugees and provide medical treatment
- The escalation of violence and the junta’s failure to restore order has led to fears that Myanmar could become a failed state
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha promised a United Nations special envoy on Friday that he will not force back people fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar, where the military ousted a democratically elected government in February.
UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told Prayuth in a meeting in Bangkok that she hopes Thailand will help find ways to work with Myanmar’s military to ease the crisis, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
People across Myanmar have taken part in massive protests against the military coup. A violent crackdown by the military has cost hundreds of lives.
The military is also battling ethnic guerilla armies in border regions that are seeking greater autonomy from the central government and support the pro-democracy protesters.
Prayuth told Schraner Burgener that Thailand is closely monitoring the situation on the border with Myanmar and has prepared several areas to shelter refugees and provide medical treatment, the statement said.