The Myanmar government will accept refugees wanting to return home from Thailand although the process will take time, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Wednesday.
Gen Prayut will meet with Myanmar State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi at Government House on Friday, and will discuss many issues with her including care for Myanmar workers and the return of Myanmar refugees staying in nine camps in Thailand.
"Myanmar is ready for their return, but we must give them time to make arrangements, including providing land for living. They understand us and we must also understand them. Besides, we must consider the humanitarian question even though we have our own burdens," the prime minister said.
The process of repatriating Myanmar refugees would be similar to that for Hmong refugees who had stayed at Wat Tham Krabok in Saraburi province. The repatriation of Hmong people had taken years, Gen Prayut said.
It was reported that about 100,000 Myanmar refugees are living in nine camps in Mae Hong Son, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Tak provinces.