Catholic Institute for International Relations
Commission on Human Rights, 57th Session
Oral Intervention on Agenda Item 14 (a) Migrant Workers
April 12, 2001
Mr. Chairperson (Madame Chairperson)
I am here to speak on behalf of the "undocumented" Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, with whom I have been working for several years. According to the Royal Thai Government figures, there are more than 1.2 million Burmese working in Thailand. Unlike the usual profile of migrant workers, these Burmese migrants have fled from half-a -century civil war and on-going gross human rights abuses committed by the Burmese junta. In particular, I am referring to systematic forced relocation campaigns and forced labor. Most migrants come from the areas where on-going gas pipeline projects, and areas along the Salween River where mega-dams will be built.
Mr. Chairperson,
The military offensives of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) against the ethnic armed groups are still going on. People from the conflict areas are fleeing into Thailand. For example, the offensive against the Shan State Army on the northern Thai-Burma border since last February has forced hundreds of Shan people to flee into Thailand.
Mr. Chairperson,
The open market and the private sector, which the SPDC has claimed to be the "major" components of its economy, have benefited only those within the SPDC circle, thus causing serious economic instability. Today's unofficial exchange rate is 556 Kyats to one US dollar. (The lowest salary of a civil servant is 4,500 Kyat per month). The price of consumer goods is skyrocketing every day. Added to these harsh economic conditions, lack of food, lack of job opportunities and loss of hope have resulted in the flight of migrants from both urban and rural areas throughout Burma into Thailand in search of a means to support their families.
Mr. Chairperson,
In Thailand, Burmese migrant workers are doing jobs nicknamed the 3Ds --
Dirty, Difficult and Dangerous on the lowest level of the Thai labour market, and at well-below minimum wages. Because of their status, undocumented migrant workers are open to abuse and violence from Thai employers, unscrupulous individuals and certain corrupt officials. Women workers face more difficulties than their male counterparts. When they were in Burma, they were vulnerable to rape and sexual abuse by the government troops. In Thailand, they continue to be vulnerable to similar abuses by Thai employers and individuals and some authorities. For fear of arrest and deportation, few survivors of such abuses are willing to come forward to press charges against the perpetrators.
Mr. Chairperson,
The SPDC is fully responsible for pushing the Burmese people out of Burma. It is the root cause of all the problems faced by these people in Thailand. Ironically, the returning migrants are accused of being traitors to the country. Some returning migrants are immediately arrested and forced to work on government infrastructure schemes without pay. Many are stopped at every checkpoint and subjected to extortion by a variety of SPDC authorities. Some deported migrants are stopped at checkpoints a few miles from the Thai-Burmese border and questioned not only about where they worked and what they did in Thailand, but also whether or not they had direct contact with pro-democracy groups. Moreover, The SPDC blamed Thailand for allowing Burmese citizens to work secretly and illegally.
Mr. Chairperson,
Here, I would like to highlight how indifferent the SPDC is {compared to other governments } towards its own citizens in Thailand. Last year, a British tourist named Kristy was murdered in Chiangmai, Thailand. The British Embassy in Bangkok was the key player in having the case thoroughly investigated and brought to a conclusion. In contrast, for the past ten years, there have been numerous cases of rape/ murder/ trafficking of Burmese migrant women in Thailand; but to date, we have heard no comments or responses from the SPDC. Recent examples are: a December 07, 2000 "Nation " report about an unidentified Burmese migrant woman who was raped and killed and a February 11, 2001 "Bangkok Post " article about the arrest of 33 Burmese girls after two Shan women informed the police that they had been trafficked into prostitution.
Mr. Chairperson,
Unless there is a significant change in Burma's political climate, there will be more and more people fleeing from Burma to the neighbouring countries, working as undocumented migrant workers for their survival, and encountering various types of human rights abuses.
I would therefore like to call upon the Commission to urge the SPDC to end the abuses which have forced people to flee to Thailand; to stop intimidating and abusing returning migrants, especially women and children; and to create conditions conducive to their voluntary return and full reintegration in safety and dignity. Considering the vulnerable position of undocumented migrants, I would like to take this opportunity to call on the Commission to encourage the Royal Thai Government to sensitize all relevant {Thai} authorities so that they will actively prevent any abuse of migrants, especially women on Thai soil; to convince them to allow these refugees and migrant workers who are filling Thai manual and/or unskilled labour to stay until A nation-wide cease-fire with all ethnic armed groups is fully implemented.
Thank You.