Border Evacuation Rehearsal in Preparation for Neighbouring Conflict

 | Tue 2 Jun 2015 10:00 ICT

CityNews – Military personnel from Chiang Dao’s Pha Muang district are this week participating in a training operation to practice the rescue of people on the border, including hill tribes, in times of danger emanating from conflict across the border.

save the locals

Colonel Chalongchai Chaikumya, Deputy Commander of the Pha Muang troops, told press that a migration plan was necessary to keep people safe on the Thai-Burmese border as Burma has lots of minorities and they often fight with the Burmese government, endangering people on the Thai side of the border.

500 people from 6 villages participated in the rehearsal.

The practice separated people into three groups including women, elderly, children and other people not involved in direct conflict.

Safe zones will be set up, offering shelter, medical assistance and food to those affected, before the military plans the best way to return them to their hometown.

Colonel Jirawat Narkkawat of the Chiang Dao Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said that the purpose of such practices was to help move people into safe areas, and instill better cooperation between the military, officials and civilians.