PM calls urgent meeting of top security officials on Myawaddy situation

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an urgent meeting this afternoon with heads of security agencies, including commanders of the three armed forces and the police chief, to assess the situation in Myawaddy township, which is facing a critical shortage of fuel.

Among those attending are Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Defence Minister General Natthapong Nakpanich, Army Commander-in-Chief General Pana Klaewplodthuk, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Jirapol Wongwit, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul and Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, the police commissioner-general.

The meeting was prompted by reports that Myawaddy township is experiencing a critical shortage of petrol, forcing many motorists and motorcyclists to cross into Thailand’s Mae Sot district and to wait in long lines to refuel their vehicles, after Thailand cut electricity, petrol supplies and internet to five locations, including Myawaddy, on February 5th.

Service stations are also prohibited from filling jerry cans or other containers with fuel, causing problems for Thai people in the district who need it for their machinery.

The meeting will evaluate the situation, to determine whether the restrictive measure will be relaxed.

Meanwhile, Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, the inspector general and head of the human trafficking suppression centre, held a meeting today with officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to address scamming and human trafficking activities in Myanmar and ways to help the trafficked victims.

It was agreed at the meeting that follow up meetings will be held soon between police from several countries whose citizens have been lured to work in Myanmar. Meanwhile, UNODC will help in the screening of victims and provide interpreters.

Regarding a list of 3,700 suspected scammers, provided by China, Pol Gen Thatchai said most of them are Chinese nationals, adding that he has no idea how many are still at large.