The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has urged its Myanmar counterpart via the Thai-Myanmar township border committee to be more careful with its use of weaponry after stray bullets and grenades from across the border were found in villages in Tak.
Deputy army spokeswoman Col Sirichan Ngathong was briefed by army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae who attended a meeting about the clashes between the Myanmar army and a minority group at the RTA headquarters yesterday.
Col Sirichan said soldiers, border patrol police, administrative officials, rescuers and community leaders are monitoring the situation.
Armed forces have been sent to scour border areas to protect the country's territorial sovereignty, said Col Sirichan, adding the army chief stressed the need for all parties to follow the national border defence plan and look after conflict-affected residents.
The army will extend its humanitarian assistance to refugees, many of whom have pledged to return to their home nation when the violence subsides, Col Sirichan said.
Meanwhile, Naresuan task force chief Maj Gen Prasan Saengsirirak has instructed the 14th infantry regiment to work with state agencies to help repair damaged houses in conflict-affected areas.
Maj Gen Prasan also suggested villagers in Muen Rue Chai village in Tak's Phop Phra district build a bunker to keep safe.
Citing data from the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific (RBAP), the task force leader said that as of Dec 1, 92,000 Myanmar nationals had sought refuge over the preceding 12 months.
However, the exact number of refugees was difficult to assess due to the instability of the current situation and insufficient information, it said.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said after a cabinet meeting yesterday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issued guidelines about the conflict along the Thai-Myanmar border.
He said the government will follow Asean's five-point consensus, which includes urging an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and constructive dialogue among all parties to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the public.
For Myanmar villagers who fled to Tak's Mae Sot district during the fighting, the government has instructed the army to provide them with necessary humanitarian assistance, he said.