TAK, Dec 16 (TNA) – Officials put unrest under control at the Ban Mae La camp of Myanmar refugees in Tha Song Yang district and found great damage to government properties while refugees demanded eased COVID-19 control measures and the replacement of an assistant district chief who was the camp chief.
Security officials restored order at the refugee camp and retreated to reduce confrontation. Fire engines were deployed in case that a riot may recur. Control was regained over the camp after about 1,000 Myanmar refugees had started a riot and destroyed and set ablaze government properties inside the compound.
Tak deputy governor Somchai Kitcharoenrungrote said refugees wanted the replacement of the camp chief and claimed that they had faced very strict controls there. They also demanded an end to the lockdown of the camp.
Mr. Somchai said that the lockdown could not be lifted because officials must contain COVID-19 outbreaks.
He also said that officials filed a complaint with the Tha Song Yang police station, seeking legal action against those who destroyed the properties of the government and officials at the Ban Mae Lae refugee camp.
Damaged properties included two office buildings, a meeting room, three houses of officials, 12 kiosks of security guards, 43 houses of territorial defense volunteers, 10 cars, 74 motorcycles and two guns of territorial defense volunteers. (TNA)
