Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand has issued a warning, stating that Myanmar nationals entering the country illegally will be subject to prosecution.
The Thai Prime Minister also stated that Thailand welcomes individuals who enter the country legally and is currently in discussions with security organizations to take action against those who enter illegally.
According to those assisting migrant workers, since the enactment of the military junta’s conscription law, young people from Myanmar have been attempting to enter neighboring Thailand, not only through legal channels but also via illegal routes.
“This occurred due to the conscription law. The Prime Minister of Thailand will state that he will take action; this is their responsibility. We don’t want to discourage them from coming over, but we do want to thoroughly investigate the route. Moreover, the number of brokers will likely increase, so we need to be able to choose trustworthy individuals,” explained someone assisting with Burmese labor affairs in Mae Sot, near the Thai border.
Thai media reports indicate that Thai authorities have arrested over 220 individuals for illegal entry along the Thai-Myanmar border following the enactment of the military service law.
On February 20th, Thai police arrested 19 Myanmar nationals for illegal entry into Ranong from Kawthoung in a single day.
The Embassy of Thailand in Yangon has also announced that only 400 people will be accepted per day, as there were over a thousand individuals with visas seeking entry through official channels.
Due to the large number of people entering Thailand illegally, Thai authorities are conducting inspections in the Tak district, situated on the Thai-Myanmar border.
