The first group of 200 Chinese human trafficking victims, who were rescued from the town of Shwe Kokko, is being sent back to China today via the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.
Following reports that the Border Guard Force (BGF) had detained and compiled a list of foreign individuals who were victims of human trafficking gangs tricked into working in Myanmar, arrangements have been made to transfer the Chinese victims from Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy, Myanmar, across to Thailand via the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, in preparation for their return to China today (February 20, 2025).
Recently, reporters have been following the atmosphere of receiving the Chinese call center victims who were rescued from Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy, Myanmar, at the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. This first group consists of 200 individuals out of a total of 628.
Today, the atmosphere is such that officials have cordoned off the area, not allowing Thai and foreign media to enter the border checkpoint area in Mae Sot 2. Journalists have therefore set up outside the fence to observe the situation. From this point, they can see the atmosphere as the buses carrying the call center victims descend from the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge before proceeding to the Thai immigration process. Additionally, soldiers from the Royal Thai Army’s special task force are present to ensure order and safety around the area where the Chinese individuals are being received and transferred.
The first bus carrying the Chinese call center victims arrived at the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge at 9:00 AM. After the bus docked at the border checkpoint building, Thai soldiers used a megaphone to call out the names of each Chinese individual before they disembarked from the bus. Each victim was accompanied by one soldier as they walked into the building. Just 10 minutes later, the second bus drove into the Mae Sot 2 border checkpoint, followed by the remaining buses in succession.
After the Chinese victims arrive at the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, they will go through the Thai immigration process. Once their documents are checked, the officials will escort the Chinese victims back onto the bus to transport them to Mae Sot Airport. This process does not involve the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) like other nationalities that have been repatriated previously. This is because, on February 19, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Poomtham Wechayachai stated that the screening of human trafficking victims under the NRM had already been completed in Myanmar, as agreed with China. This followed discussions with Liu Zhongyi, the Assistant Minister of Public Security of China, at the Ministry of Defense.
The People’s Republic of China has prepared four flights from China Southern Airlines to land at Mae Sot Airport, with the first flight arriving at 10:45 AM to receive the first group of 50 Chinese individuals. The process of receiving the Chinese individuals today is underway.
A total of four rounds will be conducted, with each round accommodating 50 individuals, until all 200 victims are transported. The final round is scheduled for 5:00 PM, when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Poomtham Wechayachai will travel from Bangkok to hold a press conference regarding the details, alongside Liu Zhongyi, the Assistant Minister from China, at Mae Sot Airport. The details of the flights are as follows:
February 20:
- First round: Flight 2981 arriving at 10:40 AM and Flight 2982 departing at 11:40 AM.
- Second round: Flight 2983 arriving at 11:40 AM and Flight 2984 departing at 12:40 PM.
- Third round: Flight 2985 arriving at 12:40 PM and Flight 2986 departing at 1:40 PM.
- Fourth round: Flight 2987 arriving at 1:40 PM and Flight 2988 departing at 2:40 PM.
February 21:
- First round: Flight 2981 arriving at 10:40 AM and Flight 2982 departing at 11:40 AM.
- Second round: Flight 2983 arriving at 11:40 AM and Flight 2984 departing at 12:40 PM.
- Third round: Flight 2985 arriving at 12:40 PM and Flight 2986 departing at 1:40 PM.
- Fourth round: Flight 2987 arriving at 1:40 PM and Flight 2988 departing at 2:40 PM.
- Fifth round: Flight 5307 arriving at 5:10 PM and Flight 5308 departing at 6:10 PM.
- Sixth round: Flight 5503 arriving at 6:10 PM and Flight 5506 departing at 7:10 PM
Read more on https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/2842920
