TAK: Officials were still struggling to regain full control of the Mae La refugee camp in Tha Song Yang district on Wednesday evening after a riot there Tuesday night.
District chief Yongyut Suksiri discussed the situation at the Myanmar refugee camp with Pol Col Paitoon Sukhumwatana at the nearby Ban Mae La checkpoint in tambon Mae La.
Angered by restrictions on movement and fees they said they were charged to enter and exit the camp, hundreds of Myanmar refugees started a riot in the camp and its vicinity on Tuesday night and set fire to officials' kiosks as well as living quarters, vehicles and shops belonging to both territorial defence volunteers and refugees.
Police, administrators and soldiers were trying to regain control over the camp. Earlier, officials prohibited refugees from leaving the camp, but dwellers could be seen exiting and entering it freely on Wednesday.
The refugees' protest did not recur during the day, but young refugees continued to gather in groups inside the camp.
Officials tried to contact refugees' representatives to discuss the cause of Tuesday's riot and avoid further unrest.
Refugees reportedly demanded the transfer of territorial defence volunteers and the assistant chief of Tha Song Yang district, who acted as the chief of the refugee camp. They also wanted permission to freely enter and exit the camp without incurring a fee they said they had to pay in both directions.
District chief Yongyut said that he did not have the authority to meet the demands and that officials had prohibited refugees from exiting the camp due to Covid-19 concerns.
There are numerous camps along the western border holding war refugees from neighbouring Myanmar . Mae La refugee camp was established in 1984 and is said to be the largest, currently with about 40,000 residents.