Over 100 people returning from Thailand are being held by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) near Palaung Japan village in Three Pagoda Pass (TPP), Thai-Myanmar border, as part of C-19 pandemic controls.
The NMSP’s Three Pagoda Pass Administrative Secretary-General, Mehm Chan Mon told Mon News Agency (MNA) that based on the instructions from NMSP’s headquarters returnees from Thailand are not allowed to continue traveling. The NMSP has arranged accommodation for the returnees.
“We have no idea how those returnees from Thailand got here to us. People have been gathering as we stopped them at our gate since yesterday. We have collected a list of more than 100 people, including Mon, Karen, Dawei, and Burmese ethnic nationalities. We try to prepare food for them as well,” said Mehm Chan Mon.
People must remain in the area until the [NMSP) is able to negotiate with the town authorities concerning a safe way for returnees from Thailand to get back to their homes.
A nurse from the Border Health Initiative (BHI), Mi Seik Kamar, expressed concern regarding the living conditions of returnees who have been sheltering under the trees without blankets or mosquito nets.
“The Palaung Japan villagers do not allow those returning from Thailand to enter their village, so they have to shelter near the NMSP gate. Our medical team measured their temperatures. If we find [people] having a fever, we will send [them] to the Three Pagoda Pass hospital. We have provided educational talks regarding COVID-19. They have been on a harsh journey as they came through different labour brokers.
They looked tired. We are worried that they will get sick as the weather is hot during the day and cold at night in this area. They suddenly were put out of work, and do not seem to have enough money in hand. Some people do not have any cash in hand,” added Mi Seik Kamar.
Despite this development at TPP, it has been reported that authorities have been sending some returnees back to their hometowns, including Kyar-Inn-Seik-Kyi Township [Karen State] and Kyeikmaraw Township in Mon State.
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Thailand announced an emergency order on March 25th at noon imposing a curfew, restricting gatherings and traveling.
The order also required foreign workers to stay in their place of work for 14 days, and temporarily suspended travel along the Myanmar border, which is connected to Kanchanaburi province.
According to a Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter released on March 30, the government suggested returnees from Thailand cross the border only after April 15. This was to allow time for the government to prepare quarantine accommodations.
