(Bangkok Post photo)Ninety-three refugees from Myanmar who have been living in camps along Thailand’s western border have gone home, the second such return since 2016, the UN refugee agency on Tuesday, raising hopes for the eventual closure of some of Asia's oldest refugee camps. About 100,000 refugees from Myanmar, most of them ethnic minority Karen people, have been living in nine camps in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi, many since the Myanmar army began sustained offensives against Karen guerrillas in the early 1980s. The first voluntary repatriation, of 68 Myanmar refugees from the camps took place began in 2016. The UNHCR said on Tuesday the situation in Myanmar's western Rakhine State was "not yet conducive for the return of Rohingya refugees". Heavy fighting has erupted intermittently in Kachin State in northern Myanmar in recent years, including over the past few weeks.

Source: Bangkok Post May 08, 2018 10:18 UTC