Myanmar refugees board a boat as they return home in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Myanmar refugees board a boat as they return home in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Thai police escort a group of Myanmar refugees crossing to Myawaddi town at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Mae Sot. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: Reuters
Last batch of Myanmar refugees with their belongings walk to a pier in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Myanmar refugees disembark from a boat as they return home at a pier in Myawaddi. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
A Myanmar man, with his belongings and his child, makes his way to a pier in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Last batch of Myanmar refugees with their belongings disembark from a boat as they arrive home in Myawaddy township, Myanmar. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Myanmar refugees walk on a street as they head to a pier in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Myanmar refugees board a boat as they return home in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
A boat carrying last batch of Myanmar refugees back home cruises on the Moei river in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Myanmar refugees walk on a street as they head to a pier in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Last batch of Myanmar refugees with their belongings walk to a pier in Mae Sot, Thailand. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Refugees from Myanmar cross the border to reach the Thai border town of Mae Sot. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: Reuters
A Myanmar refugee holds his child while waiting for food next to a Thai border volunteer in Mae Sot. Clashes starting on Sunday between ethnic rebels and government troops prompted an exodus of about 20 000 refugees across the border in to Thailand. Many of them started heading home after the fighting at the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myawaddy subsided. But about 1 000 still remained on Thai soil opposite the Three Pagoda Pass. Photo: AP
Published Nov 10, 2010
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About 20 000 refugees from Myanmar headed home after fleeing to Thailand as fighting followed a general election that is certain to keep Myanmar's military and its allies in power. The incident underlined Myanmar's vulnerability to unrest following the country's first election in two decades on Sunday, which was billed by the ruling junta as a key stage in its self-proclaimed road to democracy. Privately, officials of the junta's proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, have boasted of winning 75 percent to 80 percent of the vote, even though just a handful of official results have been announced.
Political opponents say the sweeping victory will be won through cheating, and are joined by Western nations in decrying the vote as manipulated and unfair.
