Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares in Thailand over spread of COVID

Sub-title: 

The latest outbreak was first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, prompting a flare-up in online hate speech.

Description: 

"“Wherever you see Myanmar people, shoot them down,” read one Thai comment on YouTube after a surge of coronavirus cases among workers from Myanmar. The outbreak, first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, has prompted a surge in online hate speech as well as questions over Thailand’s treatment of millions of migrant workers.....“Myanmar people are being labelled for transmitting COVID-19, but the virus doesn’t discriminate,” said Sompong Srakaew of the Labour Protection Network, a Thai group helping migrant workers. Shifting sentiment has had real consequences, he said, with workers from Myanmar, previously known as Burma, being blocked from buses, motorcycle taxis and offices.....“Myanmar people are being labelled for transmitting COVID-19, but the virus doesn’t discriminate,” said Sompong Srakaew of the Labour Protection Network, a Thai group helping migrant workers. Shifting sentiment has had real consequences, he said, with workers from Myanmar, previously known as Burma, being blocked from buses, motorcycle taxis and offices..."

Source/publisher: 

"Al Jazeera" (Qatar)

Date of Publication: 

2020-12-24

Date of entry: 

2021-01-03

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Countries: 

Myanmar, Thailand

Language: 

English

Resource Type: 

text

Text quality: 

    • Good