VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok facilitates the repatriation of Indonesians stranded in Thailand following the Thai policy to suspend commercial flights to the country. (HO-KBRI Bangkok)

The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok repatriated 356 Indonesians mostly stranded following Thailand's policy to suspend international commercial flights to the country from April 4 to April 30, 2020.

The Thai policy is part of the efforts to thwart the spread of COVID-19, especially to curtail the number of coronavirus cases from abroad.

For its part, the embassy has taken requisite steps in cooperation with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to repatriate the Indonesians.

Garuda Indonesia has secured a special permit from the Thai government to fly home the Indonesians on April 20-23, the embassy noted in a written statement released on Monday.

Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Ahmad Rusdi noted that the repatriation of Indonesians from Thailand is a demonstration of the government's commitment to protecting Indonesians regardless of their location.

Most Indonesians are tourists and students opting for an apprenticeship program at several hotels and tourist resorts in Thailand. Majority of the Indonesians had been in Thailand since early and late March 2020.

Romanus Seran Bria, one of the Indonesians working as a soccer coach, expressed gratitude to the embassy for its efforts to repatriate Indonesians in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the embassy has offered them logistics, including food and vitamins, while they await repatriation to Indonesia. (ANTARA)