Transfers of foreign nationals freed from scam centers in eastern Myanmar to neighboring Thailand have resumed, as Thai authorities are ready to accept them.



An armed ethnic group that controls eastern parts of Myanmar has set free thousands of foreigners held in a scam operation hub in the area.



The Myanmar side had sent them in batches to Thailand before suspending the transfers in late February. It said Thailand lacked the capacity to accept all of the remaining foreigners.



The Thai government says the transfers resumed on Thursday, and that more than 7,000 people will be repatriated once their home countries are ready to take them in.



It says about 1,400 Chinese will be sent back to China by Sunday.



Sources say a 36-year-old Japanese man found at a scam center on February 26 and handed over to Myanmar authorities will likely be transferred to Thailand soon and extradited to Japan.



An official of an international NGO supporting the freed people says Thailand bears some responsibility as a transit country. The official added that Myanmar and the home countries also have responsibility to help the people return.