BANGKOK, Aug 4 — The Thai government has assured that all Thai nationals will be evacuated safely from Libya.
Defence Forces Chief Tanasak Patimapragorn reaffirmed that the Thai embassy in Libya had not been attacked as reported earlier and gave assurances that all Thai nationals would be (safely) evacuated from that country.
Gen Tanasak told reporters this morning that the Thai embassy in Libya was operating as usual and and that the staffs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour could be contacted.
They are following procedures to evacuate Thai people from the country.
According to the Defence Forces Chief, 18 more Thai evacuees will arrive in Bangkok today and 81 others come Wednesday..
Thirty Thais in Libya do not intend to return to Thailand but the authorities are trying to convince them to leave for their safety.
So far, 410 Thai workers have received payment from their employers to leave for Thailand, but 562 other workers have received no help from their employers.
The Thai government will pay for their return.
About 300 other workers are said to be at safe locations in Libya, and the Thai authorities are attempting to contact them.
Gen Tanasak said the Thai Air Force is ready to deploy its C-130 transport aircraft to support the evacuation when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests it to do so. At present the evacuation depends mainly on commercial aircraft.
He said the general situation in Libya is calm but uncertain as battles continued in several locations. The Thai authorities are awaiting the outcome from a session of the Libyan parliament for further decisions. Thailand also plans to charter ships to evacuate Thaise from Libya, Gen Tanasak said.
The Thai authorities are coordinating evacuation and assistance for Thais in Libya in Tripoli, Djerba and Tunis as well as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Military Command Center.
“All Thai people are safe in Libya. Do not worry. We will take the best care so that they can return safely,” the deputy NCPO chief said.
Meanwhile, he said, Thai workers is Israel have moved to safer places.
