A pick-up truck transporting 12 Myanmar nationals who had entered Thailand illegally through the Myawady-Mae Sot road overturned near Phop Phra District in Tak province on the morning of May 7, injuring all passengers.

Reports indicate that the truck arrived in Phop Phra District around 8:00 am and failed to stop at the checkpoint, attempting to evade security. As authorities pursued, the vehicle lost control and overturned at the roadside.

The recent accident marks the fifth occurrence involving illegal border crossings, with all 12 Myanmar workers in the pick-up truck sustaining injuries and being hospitalized under the care of local social rescue groups.

"In 2024, our Joint Action Committee for Burmese Affairs (JACBA) has recorded five motor vehicle accidents during illegal border crossings, resulting in five fatalities and 59 injuries among illegal Myanmar travelers. The 12 Myanmar nationals injured in this fifth incident are currently receiving medical treatment at the hospital. Depending on their recovery, Thailand may initiate legal proceedings against them, possibly leading to a prison sentence of 6 months to a year under Thai human trafficking laws. Thai prisons already accommodate a significant number of Myanmar nationals. Myanmar people faced the challenges caught between pressures from multiple directions. I’d like to say that illegally crossing borders not only risks accidents but also exposes individuals to starvation if abandoned by brokers and potential injury or death when entering Thailand unlawfully. It's imperative to avoid illegal entry and instead advocate for a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) system. I appeal to those with legal authority to consider easing this process gradually," stated U Moegyoe.