Following intense media speculation, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released a media statement on Thursday 17 July in an attempt to cool speculation that the refugee camps on the Thai Burma border were about to be closed and residents sent back to Burma.
The MFA’s press release highlighted four main points and underlined that a recent meeting between Thailand and the Burma military, that any discussions on repatriation were in general terms only and without a specific timeframe.
To avoid unnecessary ‘spin’ or misunderstanding among media, international NGOs, community-based groups and especially creating unnecessary fear within the refugee community surrounding this important issue, Karen News has reproduced the MFA’s press release in full.