Mizzima

Over 600 Myanmar migrant workers detained in a Ranong detention centre in Thailand were released and repatriated on 2 February, according to reports.

According to some of the repatriated, the Thai authorities returned them across the Kra Buri River, which is the border between Ranong in Thailand and Kawthoung in Myanmar.

According to the Ranong based Meiktathahaya Association, a group that helps Myanmar migrant workers, 670 people were deported, of which 534 were men and 136 were women.

“Officials from Myanmar came with navy boats this morning. They brought back everyone. We don’t yet know any further details,” said Ko Thar Kyaw from the Meiktathahaya Association. 

Mizzima has contacted the Ranong-based Myanmar Labor Attaché Office for more details of the repatriation, but as of yet has not received a reply.

The workers had been arrested by Thai authorities for illegal migration and were temporarily held in the Ranong detention centre. 

They had staged consecutive protests on 28 and 29 January, calling for their repatriation due to uncomfortable living conditions they were suffering in the detention centre.