repatriation

  • Thailand NewsThai hostages freed by Hamas set for repatriation from Israel

    Thai hostages freed by Hamas set for repatriation from Israel

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa arrived in Israel yesterday, February 1, to supervise the anticipated repatriation of five Thai nationals who were recently released after being held hostage by Hamas for 15 months. Maris, along with Chief of Defence Forces General Songwit Noonpakdee, arrived in Tel Aviv yesterday morning local time. They later visited the five Thai nationals at Al-Shamir…

  • Thailand NewsFour Thai fishermen still held in Myanmar after mass prisoner release

    Four Thai fishermen still held in Myanmar after mass prisoner release

    Four Thai fishing vessel crew members remain detained in Myanmar, despite the release of 151 Thai prisoners. These individuals were apprehended in late November by Myanmar soldiers, accused of trespassing into Myanmar waters. The group of 151 Thai nationals, repatriated yesterday, January 4, via the second Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in Chiang Rai, were part of a larger amnesty granted by…

  • Thailand NewsCall centre scam alert: Thai DES ministry urges probe after Myanmar repatriation

    Call centre scam alert: Thai DES ministry urges probe after Myanmar repatriation

    The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) in Thailand has urged the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to probe a call centre scam following the repatriation of victims from Myanmar, a country currently in the throes of conflict. DES Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong, disclosed that 41 Thai citizens were repatriated from the embattled town of Laukkaing in the Shan State over…

  • Thailand NewsThai military to engage Myanmar over repatriation delay

    Thai military to engage Myanmar over repatriation delay

    The Thai military is set to engage Myanmar over the delay in the repatriation of 41 Thai nationals who were recently rescued from illegal businesses in Laukkaing township. This was revealed today by Colonel Natee Thomsen, the commander of the Thap Chao Tak Taskforce of the Pha Mueang Force. Col. Natee plans to discuss the reasons behind the repatriation delay…

  • Thailand NewsThais in Myanmar issued emergency documents for repatriation

    Thais in Myanmar issued emergency documents for repatriation

    Emergency travel documents are being issued to the majority of Thais awaiting repatriation in Myanmar, as most of them are without passports, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday. The MFA revealed that these individuals had their passports taken away by their employers. The information was disclosed by Ruj Thammamomgkol, director-general of the MFA Consular…

  • Thailand NewsOver 200 Thais set for repatriation from conflict-ridden Myanmar

    Over 200 Thais set for repatriation from conflict-ridden Myanmar

    The repatriation of over 200 Thai individuals from a conflict-ridden region in Myanmar is set to occur this week, according to Deputy National Police Chief Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn. The official confirmed on Wednesday that the move depends on the approval of Myanmar’s authorities. Earlier, 162 Thai nationals found themselves stranded amidst hostilities in Myanmar’s Shan state, caught…

  • Thailand NewsTwo more Thai workers in Israel confirmed dead, one taken hostage

    Two more Thai workers in Israel confirmed dead, one taken hostage

    In a distressing turn of events, two more Thai nationals working in Israel have been confirmed dead, and another has been taken hostage, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This escalates the already devastating situation in the region, with the death toll among Thai workers climbing to 34 and the number of Thai hostages held by Hamas rising…

  • Thailand NewsThai and Myanmar authorities collaborate to repatriate deceived Thai workers

    Thai and Myanmar authorities collaborate to repatriate deceived Thai workers

    A collaborative effort between Thai and Myanmar authorities is in progress to return 120 Thai nationals to their homeland, according to Kanchana Patarachok, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. This group, consisting of 90 men and 30 women, was reportedly deceived into employment in Laukkaing, located in the northern sector of Myanmar’s Shan State, on the Chinese border, by an…

  • Thailand NewsThird group of Thai workers return from Israel, escaping Gaza conflict

    Third group of Thai workers return from Israel, escaping Gaza conflict

    A group of Thai workers, comprising 88 males and two females, arrived back home from Israel this morning, marking the third group to return. This repatriation was orchestrated by the Thai government. The workers’ journey home began in Israel yesterday, where they boarded Fly Dubai Flight FZ1550 at 11am local time and travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Their journey…

  • Thailand NewsThai worker pays 50,000 baht for flight home amid conflict zone chaos

    Thai worker pays 50,000 baht for flight home amid conflict zone chaos

    A Thai worker who paid for his own flight back home to Thailand revealed the dire situation in a conflict-ridden zone. He disclosed that several of his friends who lost their lives could not be repatriated due to ongoing identity verification. He decided to take matters into his own hands, spending over 50,000 baht (US$1,377) on his journey home. According…

  • Thailand NewsChiang Rai begins controversial repatriation of 126 Burmese children

    Chiang Rai begins controversial repatriation of 126 Burmese children

    Yesterday, police in Chiang Rai started the process of repatriating 126 Burmese children who lack official registration documents. These children, aged between seven and 16 years old, were students at a school in Ang Thong and were shipped on four buses with plans to transfer them to five separate shelters before sending them back to their home country. This action…

  • Thailand NewsElephant repatriation: Thai king funds medical treatment for Sak Surin

    Elephant repatriation: Thai king funds medical treatment for Sak Surin

    Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Varawut Silpa-archa, yesterday announced the King’s financial support for the medical treatment of Sak Surin, a 30 year old elephant recently repatriated. The jumbo is presently receiving care at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre’s Elephant Hospital in Lampang province. The elephant repatriation took place on Sunday in Sri Lanka where it was airlifted…

  • World NewsEx-official’s wife testifies in US trial over China’s Operation Fox Hunt

    Ex-official’s wife testifies in US trial over China’s Operation Fox Hunt

    A former Chinese official and his wife, who had relocated to the United States and kept their address private, experienced a disturbing encounter when two strangers attempted to enter their New Jersey home. The wife later discovered a threatening note on their doorstep, stating that if her husband returned to China and served ten years in prison, their family would…

  • Bangkok NewsBody of cricket star Warne in Bangkok, awaiting repatriation to Australia

    Body of cricket star Warne in Bangkok, awaiting repatriation to Australia

    Thai police say the body of cricketer Shane Warne is in Bangkok, awaiting repatriation to his native Australia. Warne died of a suspected heart attack last Friday, while on holiday on Koh Samui. He was 52 years old and had a history of congenital disease, according to a Reuters report. Deputy police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen says Australian consular officials are…

  • World News48 Thais deported from Malaysia after serving prison sentences

    48 Thais deported from Malaysia after serving prison sentences

    Malaysian authorities have sent home 48 Thais after finishing their prison sentences for working illegally. The 38 males and 10 women were deported to Thailand’s southern Songkhla Sadao district where they were immediately tested for Covid-19 upon arriving and sent to mandatory 14 day quarantine facilities. The main border checkpoint at Sadao was closed for 14 days following a surge…

  • Covid-19 NewsBringing Thai nationals home is a team effort

    Bringing Thai nationals home is a team effort

    As the world ground to a crawl thanks to Covid-19, things began ramping up at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with staff working tirelessly to help Thai citizens abroad get back home. MFA staff are based both in Thailand and overseas and are tasked with assisting Thai nationals during emergencies such as natural disasters or indeed, a pandemic, wherever they…

  • Pattaya NewsOfficials say no signs of mental illness in man who fell to his death in Pattaya quarantine

    Officials say no signs of mental illness in man who fell to his death in Pattaya quarantine

    The deputy director-general of the Department of Mental Health says a 30 year old Thai man who fell to his death while in state quarantine in Pattaya displayed no signs of mental illness. Samai Sirithongthavorn says the man underwent physical and mental tests while on board the repatriation flight returning him to Thailand from Israel. The Pattaya News reports that…

  • Covid-19 NewsProvincial governors ordered to follow up on Thais released from state quarantine

    Provincial governors ordered to follow up on Thais released from state quarantine

    Thailand’s Interior Ministry has issued an order to provincial governors to follow up with repatriated Thais who return to their home provinces once released from state quarantine. The instruction comes after two women, recently returned from Dubai, tested positive several weeks after being released from quarantine. Both had returned to their home provinces of Loei and Chaiyaphum, in the north-east…

  • Covid-19 NewsRepatriation of Thai citizens from Bahrain suspended as embassy worker tests positive for virus

    Repatriation of Thai citizens from Bahrain suspended as embassy worker tests positive for virus

    All consular services at the Thai Embassy in Bahrain, including the repatriation of Thai citizens, have been suspended, as an official in the consular office has tested positive for Covid-19. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Cherdkiat Atthakor, says it’s hoped services can resume at the embassy in the Bahraini capital, Manama, from August 22. The temporary measure is being implemented after…

  • World NewsMyanmar puts a hold on international flights until at least October

    Myanmar puts a hold on international flights until at least October

    According to Myanmar’s National Tourism Development Central Committee vice-president, Myanmar’s airports are unlikely to re-open to international commercial flights until at least October this year. There is no guarantee, however, that even if the country opens its skies to international flights, there will be any takers other than airlines offering repatriation flights. Border closures around the world have grounded entire fleets…

  • Covid-19 NewsDesperate Thais stuck in the UK make plea to return home

    Desperate Thais stuck in the UK make plea to return home

    A Thai doctor based in the UK is appealing to the Thai government to allow Thai citizens currently stranded in the country to return home. Ekaphum Chamnanrabiabkij is a practising doctor in Bicester, in the English county of Oxfordshire, and has become something of a spokesman for his stranded compatriots who find themselves locked out of Thailand during the Covid-19…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand extends international arrival ban except for certain groups

    Thailand extends international arrival ban except for certain groups

    The current ban on international arrivals has been extended until further notice by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, with the exception of certain categories of foreigners and returning Thais. The news came late last night in a social media post by the CAAT. According to the statement, the extension is due to the ongoing global Covid-19 crisis, which many…

  • Covid-19 News38 Thai nationals in Egypt test positive for Covid-19

    38 Thai nationals in Egypt test positive for Covid-19

    The Thai Embassy in Cairo says 38 Thai citizens have tested positive for Covid-19 so far, only 1 of whom has fully recovered. A report in Thai PBS World says that, over the weekend, the embassy carried out health screening on 220 Thai nationals due to fly back to Thailand yesterday. It also screened 10 other Thais who were on…

  • Covid-19 NewsThey arrived! One Thai/Australian family’s battle to re-unite.

    They arrived! One Thai/Australian family’s battle to re-unite.

    Common sense has prevailed and the uphill task faced by father Sam Kelly last week has had a favourable ending with his Thai wife, Kannika, and 2 children. Ronny and Adam, arriving safely this morning in Brisbane, Australia. His months-long battle with common sense and the vagaries of Thai officialdom has resulted in at least one family being re-united soon…

  • Covid-19 NewsHope for overseas foreigners separated from families in Thailand

    Hope for overseas foreigners separated from families in Thailand

    “We appreciate the sacrifices and regret the inconvenience caused.” For weeks now, foreign nationals who normally reside in Thailand but find themselves stranded overseas due to the Covid-19 travel ban, have been pleading with the government to be allowed to return to their families. Now, there may finally be some hope on the horizon. At least their plight is now…

  • Covid-19 News5 Thai students test positive for Covid-19 after returning from Saudi Arabia

    5 Thai students test positive for Covid-19 after returning from Saudi Arabia

    5 students, who returned to Thailand from Saudi Arabia via Malaysia, have now been confirmed as being infected with the Covid-19 virus. The students are part of a group of 39 returning citizens who arrived back in the country via the Padang Besar road checkpoint at the Malaysian border. All 39 are reported to be in mandatory state quarantine at…

  • Covid-19 News250 Thai citizens repatriating from UK and Ireland today

    250 Thai citizens repatriating from UK and Ireland today

    The Royal Thai Embassy in London has confirmed that 250 Thai nationals are to be repatriated from the UK and Ireland today. The UK has recorded Europe’s highest number of deaths from the Covid-19 virus, currently standing at 34,636. Nation Thailand reports that once the returning citizens arrive in Bangkok, they will be required to enter a 14 day mandatory quarantine…

  • Covid-19 NewsRepatriation flight from Germany arrives in Bangkok

    Repatriation flight from Germany arrives in Bangkok

    Last night 110 Thai people, living abroad and having been affected by the Covid-19 travel restrictions and flight bans, arrived from Frankfurt, Germany on a specially-chartered Lufthansa flight. The flight number LH772 arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport where all the passengers passed initial screening with no high fevers detected and medical paperwork intact. Thai citizens, who weren’t in Frankfurt, had to make…

  • Covid-19 NewsMore Thai airports open for special international flights

    More Thai airports open for special international flights

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has opened up more airports for special international flights as of today. Now Krabi, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Hat Yai have been given permission to handle international flights which are repatriating foreign nationals, or Thai citizens coming home. Scheduled, commercial flights in and out of overseas destinations, remain…

  • Covid-19 NewsOver 500 Thais fly home today and straight into quarantine

    Over 500 Thais fly home today and straight into quarantine

    A spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced today that 581 Thais have returned from 5 countries. A flight from the Maldives brought 125 Thais at 3:15pm yesterday, then 165 arrived from Hong Kong at 3:55, 175 arrived from Singapore at 5:25 and 45 from Spain at 6:55. 70 returnees from Russia arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10:30am.…