Thailand disputes allowing the entry of 100,000 refugees from Burma

April 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Thai authorities indicated this Tuesday that they are prepared to receive some 100,000 refugees from Burma, a border country, as the fighting between the Army and the Burmese rebels, who are trying to take control of several cities, progresses.

Thailand's Foreign Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha Nukara, has confirmed that the Asian country has shown its willingness to temporarily host the asylum seekers in question. “Although there is no mass evacuation underway, people are crossing the border,” he clarified during a press conference.

Likewise, he stressed that the border between both countries, which runs some 2,400 kilometers, remains open despite the war. “Trade continues even though it has decreased,” he clarified, referring especially to the Myawaddy border crossing, where clashes have been reported over the weekend.

“The prime minister is worried about the situation getting worse,” Parnpree said after the government said it had requested permission to carry out repatriation flights for Burmese, according to information from the Thaiger news portal.

Burma has been plunged into a serious crisis since the coup d'état and the Government of National Unity, the Burmese democratic authorities in exile, has indicated that the Burma Army has committed more than thirty massacres of civilians throughout the country since the seizure of power.

The Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) estimates that 26,490 people have currently been imprisoned, of which 20,317 remain in custody, while almost 4,864 have died at the hands of the military during the strong repression campaigns.