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NEWS - Illegal migrants living in f



Subject: NEWS - Illegal migrants living in fear of authorities and neighbours

THE NATION - July 22, 1999

Local & Politics

ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

Illegal migrants living in fear of authorities and neighbours

CHIANG MAI -- Daeng (not his real name) was recently returned to Burma
from
this northern province which had been his home for more than 10 years
after
neighbours informed authorities of his nationality. The neighbours did
so
after hearing a slot on local radio urging villagers to inform police of
the
presence of migrant workers.

Daeng was repatriated despite the fact that he had lived in Thailand for
more than 10 years and has a wife and children here, said Amporn Boontan
of
the Thai Youth Aids Prevention Project.

A negative campaign mounted against migrant workers from Burma --
estimated
to number approximately one million -- together with short-sighted
government policies, legal complexity and a lack of coordination between
the
parties involved has filled the lives of migrant workers with fear and
agony.

The issue of migrant workers was the topic of discussion yesterday at a
seminar organised by Mahidol University's Population and Social Research
Institute and the Chiang Mai Health Office, and was supported by the
World
Bank and the Ford Foundation.

Participants included academics, non-governmental organisations,
government
officials and representatives of the migrant workers.

The participants agreed that unless the Thai government engages the
Burmese
authorities in solving problems concerning Burmese immigrant workers,
the
repatriation of all illegal migrant workers which has been set for
August 4
will raise more questions than it will answer.

Some local authorities have already expressed concern over the planned
repatriation.

Chiang Mai's deputy governor Phakdi Rattanapol criticised the government
for
passing responsibility for the workers to the provincial administration.
Currently, the government allows migrant workers to perform 28 types of
work, even though they have illegal status. The cabinet is now set to
consider certain jobs which migrant workers may be allowed to take up if
locals do not want them.

Chiang Mai authorities had decided on four jobs which migrant workers
could
be allowed to take up after the August 4 deadline; as gas station
workers,

domestic servants, labourers and farm workers, Phakdi said.

''But what of migrant workers who have been allowed to work in other
industries. This move will cause conflicts between the local authorities
and
business operators,'' he added.

He suggested the government initiate a long-term plan of perhaps five
years
for the workers, instead of extending illegal migrants' work permits
year by
year as it has done.

''In the long term, the government should consider giving legal status
to
the migrant workers,'' he said.

''However, it must make sure that it screens only 'qualified' and 'good'
migrant workers,'' Phakdi continued.

Mahidol University researcher Kritiya Archavamitkul urged the government
to
cover as many migrant workers as possible when it registered them for
permitted work after the August 4 deadline.

These workers must be provided with proper and adequate health care
insurance and access to health services, she added.

Most migrant workers in Chiang Mai are of the Shan ethnic minority,
while
many in Ranong are Burmese and Mon.

Kritiya urged the government to consider giving refugee status to
members of
the Shan ethnic minority and to provide them with shelter in the form of
a
camp, as in the case of Karen people who had fled fighting in Burma.

Pippa Curwen from the Shan Women's Action Network said that as many as
100,000 Shan people had fled violent suppression by the Burmese military
junta.

''The Shan are facing the same situation as the Karen, but why does the
Thai
government have a different policy of not giving Shan people refugee
status?'' asked Curwen, who is half-Shan.

A study found that because of the political and economic pressure in the
migrants' home country, many do not voluntarily return after they leave.
Most of them acknowledged having been arrested at least once. Many were
cheated by employers, either by not receiving wages or through low pay.

Due to their illegal status, language barriers and lack of savings, many
do
not seek health care when ill. They also suffer from limited information
and
lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services.

BY MUKDAWAN SAKBOON