On 25-26 October 2016, Thailand and Myanmar join hands on the voluntary return of the pilot group of 71 displaced persons from Myanmar who have been residing in Thailand for more than 30 years. The returnees comprise of 6 displaced persons from Tham Hin Temporary Shelter in Ratchaburi Province and 65 from Nupo Temporary Shelter in Tak Province. This historic undertaking was under cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Thailand has been providing shelters for the displaced group from Myanmar since 1984. At present, there are more than 103,000 displaced persons living in 9 temporary shelters in Thailand in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi Provinces. Humanitarian assistance provided to this group of people includes shelters, facilitation for non-governmental organizations to provide
additional aid, and cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations for resettlement in third countries. Positive political development and the Peace Process in Myanmar in recent years played a significant role in encouraging the displaced persons to voluntarily return to their homeland. Thailand and Myanmar thus have been working closely since to make the return successful.

The two Governments agreed to further discuss on the return of the remaining group in Thailand under the Joint Working Group (JWG) on the Return of the Displaced Persons from Myanmar, chaired by Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both sides,
in which Thailand has already proposed to host the first meeting by the end of this year.