Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Over 700 migrant workers arrested in Khon Kaen were sent back to Myanmar earlier this morning

Over 700 migrant workers from Dechapalich Fishing Net Factory who were arrested in Khon Kaen for not having any legal documents were sent back to Burma on earlier 22nd May. When asked, U Zaw Tika the abbot from Aung Thaphay monastery who help the arrested workers said, "They were arrested on 9th May. The factory has dormitories for the workers in the forest behind it, but they are much like barracks. The day before the arrest, a group of reporters from Thai TV Channel 3 documented that factory and later broadcasted there were some illegal migrant workers in the factory. As soon as the employer knows the news, he told the undocumented workers to go hiding. He told them there would be polices coming to arrest the workers and they must go hiding somewhere. He also added if they are arrested in the factory, he would not take any responsibilities. The next day he brought over 700 workers to a hiding place. The workers slept a night at the place. However, Thai polices reached the place at 9 a.m. on the next morning. The workers were taken to prison because the police detention cells were crowded. For 7 days, I help their relatives who went to see the detained workers." This factory also had a workers protesting last year for keeping and forging workers' Temporary Passports.

On 20th May the abbot met Myanmar embassy responsible person and asked to help the workers. With the embassy's request to Thai government, the workers were sent to Maesot, a Thai-Myanmar border town, said the abbot. On 21st May, the workers were sent to Maesot immigration office by 35 trucks. After arriving Maesot, the abbot imformed Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association about the workers. Therefore, YCOWA members went along with two abbots to the immigration office and gave some helps to the detained workers. On the morning of 22nd May, YCOWA members and the two abbots went again to Maesot immigration detention center to watch the deportation process. YCOWA members also distributed food and water to the workers. The workers were sent to 999 DKBA checkpoint and are allowed to go free, we were informed.