The Deputy Interior Minister visited Phop Phra and Mae Sot districts to meet with villagers affected by cross-border bullet incidents, preparing to collect information to submit to Prime Minister Anutin for discussions with Myanmar's leader.
On 4 August 2026, Jest Thaiseth, Deputy Minister of the Interior, traveled to Tak Province to monitor security and peace along the Thai-Myanmar border. He also inspected and encouraged security officials, local administrators, and residents affected by cross-border gunfire. This visit aimed to gather in-depth information to be presented to Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for use in talks with Myanmar's leader during the official visit to Thailand on 6–7 August.
Jest Thaiseth, accompanied by Chusak Ruying, Governor of Tak Province; Narongchai Jindapan, Deputy Governor of Tak; Worawit Intachai, Head of Tak's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office; and other officials, traveled to Ban Walay in Phop Phra district to visit residents whose homes were damaged by cross-border shrapnel. They then proceeded to the Pawaw operations base in Phop Phra to deliver supplies to personnel and visited Ban Mae Kon Ken in Mahawan subdistrict, Mae Sot district, to review security measures in the area.
Jest Thaiseth revealed that the Prime Minister has ordered an integrated effort involving the Ministry of Interior, Provincial Waterworks Authority, Department of National Parks, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to address security and water pollution issues. A key proposal from the area is to push to move the conflict zone away from the border to reduce the risk of bullets harming Thai lives and property.
Additionally, cross-border crime issues were monitored, revealing that scammer gangs have relocated deeper into Myanmar and no longer use electricity or internet from Thailand. Conversely, some internet signal cut measures on the Thai side have adversely affected trade and payment systems for residents, prompting plans to refine these measures for better targeting.
"Even at the farthest edge, we are all part of the Ministry of Interior family, responsible for everyone's safety and welfare. Today, I came to hear problems firsthand to advocate at the policy level and will not let people face issues alone," Jest Thaiseth said. He emphasized that local administrators, paramilitary forces, village heads, and community defense volunteers must maintain rigorous patrols and emergency drills to ensure the highest safety for residents in border areas.