BKK POST: Repatriation of Burmese w

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Repatriation of Burmese workers blasted 
Accusation of double standards levelled
Rangoon, AFP

Burmese authorities have described as "pitiful" the repatriation of hundreds of their workers from Thailand and accused Bangkok of double standards.

"It is rather pitiful that Meaner (Burmese) nationals, legal or other-wise, once welcomed in Thailand are now being sent back home," the report in the state-run New Light of Meaner newspaper said yesterday.

Thailand is cracking down on illegal workers and recently deported about 500 Burmese workers found not to have visas.

Thailand - desperate to alleviate its mounting unemployment problems - has said it will repatriate about 300,000 illegal workers over the next six months, many of them from Burma or Cambodia.

But the report in Rangoon accused Thai businessmen of knowingly employing illegal workers while Thai authorities had turned "a blind eye" to the issue.

"While millions of Thais seek better-paid jobs outside of their country, Meaner people go to work at places in Thailand where Thais do not want to work,' the report said.

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