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THAILAND- According to reports from the Thai military and Thai media, the number of Burmese youths arrested for illegally crossing the border after the approval of the military service law was more than fifty.
Three days after the military service law was announced, on February 13, 6 Burmese youths were arrested for illegally crossing the border in Thailand’s Ranong District, which is adjacent to Kawthaung District.
The young men were traveling from Ranong to Phang Nga District on motorcycles when they were arrested by the No. 25 Infantry Regiment of the Thai Army.
A young man from Dawei, currently living in Ranong, said that many people tried to leave Myanmar despite the arrests.
“The broker who arranges (the route and entry process) plays a major role. If they weren’t well prepared, some were being arrested. More people are coming to Thailand. Some of them are halfway. Yesterday, my friend’s family came here from the lower route (illegally),” said the youth from Dawei.
These days, the Thai army and police are patrolling the streets near the Kawthaung-Ranong border at night, he added.
On the morning of February 14, 17 Myanmar nationals and two brokers were arrested for illegally crossing the border in Kanchanaburi district on the border between Thailand and Mon State.
Similarly, in Tak District, Phut Phra Township, the border guards arrested a total of 27 Myanmar nationals, 11 men and 16 women, who crossed the border illegally.
The Thai authorities have said that all those arrested will be taken to the respective local police stations and will be prosecuted according to law.
Those arrested for illegal border crossing will be detained in Thai police stations before being transported back to Myanmar through the border gates.
Due to the Military Council’s military service law in Myanmar, many young people who do not want to serve in the military are trying to leave for foreign countries, and most of them are going to Thailand illegally.