Thai nationals trapped by Myanmar fighting repatriated

According to the Thai army, 41 Thai nationals who had been stranded in northern Myanmar due to a spike in fighting between junta troops and armed ethnic minority groups close to the Chinese border have returned to their home country. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as the military administration, which took control in a coup in 2021, fights against a concerted campaign by pro-democracy activists and three ethnic minority groups. According to a statement from the Thai army, coordination between Thai officials and the Myanmar army allowed the 41 Thais who were detained in Shan State to return at the Tachileik-Mae Sai border crossing. It stated that Thai authorities are attempting to repatriate at least 264 Thais who are stranded close to Laukkai city. According to Thai authorities, some of the people who were stranded in Myanmar were “victims of human trafficking,” and others may have had ties to gangs who commit telecom fraud. According to the UN, hundreds of thousands of individuals have been trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work in scam centres and other illicit online operations. Southeast Asia, especially Myanmar, has emerged as a hub for telecom fraud and other forms of online fraud. The largest onslaught the junta has faced in years was launched last month and was dubbed “Operation 1027” after the date it was initiated. The militias have taken control of numerous cities and military outposts throughout the nation, as well as portions of northern Myanmar that are close to China. (with agency inputs)