Thailand trying to rescue 162 nationals stuck in Myanmar as fighting escalates

Soldiers stand next to military vehicles as people gather to protest against the military coup, in Yangon, Myanmar, FILE/REUTERS

Thailand is working to bring back home 162 of its nationals who are currently stuck in Myanmar due to a surge in clashes between junta troops and ethnic minority insurgents near the border with China, officials said.

Thailand is strengthening its efforts to bring its people from neighbouring Myanmar after at least 30 Thais, most of them farm workers, were killed in the October 7 Hamas’ onslaught in southern Israel.

As per reports, as many as 16 Thais were wounded and 17 were among hostages taken by Palestinian terrorists and held captive in Gaza Strip.

Related Articles

Why 360,000 Palestinians defied Israeli evacuation orders in north Gaza

If it’s necessary, we will strike Israel’s Haifa without hesitation, warns Iranian commander

Last week, heavy fighting was reported in northern Myanmar’s Shan State where an alliance of ethnic minority forces battling for self-determination launched a series of coordinated attacks on junta positions.

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s ruling military says it has lost control of most towns on the border with China, including Chinshwehaw on the border with China’s Yunnan province.

The Prime Minister’s Office in Thailand posted on social media that PM Srettha Thavisin has told embassy in Myanmar to work with authorities to get the Thais to safety. It further said the Thais and other nationals were “stuck” because of the fighting.

“Right now, the embassy is discussing ways to help all Thais return home quickly,” the office said in a post on Thursday.

Myanmar has been in chaos since a military coup in February 2021 unseated a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Newly formed pro-democracy insurgent groups have in some areas teamed up with ethnic minority guerrillas who have been campaigning for decades for greater autonomy.

The latest fighting in Shan State has pushed thousands of refugees into China, and displaced thousands more internally, Myanmar media outlets reported.

A “three brotherhood alliance” of ethnic minority armies in Shan and Rakhine states, said it is seeking to defend their territory and civilians from attacks by the junta.

With inputs from Reuters