CNI News
20 Oct 2022
As the security has been tightened due to the explosion near the No (1) Friendship Bridge at the border between Myawady and Mae Sot, Myanmar migrant workers have faced more difficulties, labour activists for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand told the CNI.
An explosion rocked the area surrounding the Myawaddy-Mae Sok No (1) Friendship Bridge on 15th October.
As the security has been tightened due to the explosion, Myanmar migrant workers who want to sneak into Thailand and those who want to illegally return to Myanmar have faced difficulties, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.
He said, “To put it simply, they have to return to Myanmar illegally by whatever means available for them. If the bridge and border gates are open, they go back to their country easily. However, Myawady is frequently hit by explosions. Although they are fighting the junta, it causes difficulties for migrant workers to return home or their returns are delayed. There are many armed groups in Karen State. The military will tighten the security when explosions hit Myawady. Thai authorities will also tighten the security. So, more migrant workers will be arrested due to increased security.”
People travelling at Thai-Myanmar Border. (AP)
The bridge has been closed since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The reopening of the bridge has been further delayed due to political crises in Myanmar and Myanmar migrant workers who want to return home have to illegally cross the Taungyin River to sneak back into their own country.
Such explosions also threaten the lives of Myanmar migrant workers who want to return home via illegal routes, Labour Activist U Ba Yee from the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI.
He said, “It is more difficult for Myanmar migrant workers to travel back to Myanmar as the bridge has already been closed even before such explosions, which also pose a threat to lives of Myanmar migrant workers who want to return to Myanmar. We are afraid that battles will erupt when we have to go to Myawady. Current circumstances pose a threat to migrant workers who want to return home.”
Damage caused by an explosion at the Myawaddy-Mae Sot No (1) Friendship Bridge on 15th October, 2022.
The explosions will further delay the reopening of the bridge, according to labour activists in Thailand.
Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI, “I think the situation of our country will continue to deteriorate and the revolution will be delayed. As the elected government of the people cannot still effectively control the country, the people will suffer more troubles. As I support the elected government, it would like to urge it to do more to help the people. The elected government should do more to help Myanmar people in Thailand as soon as possible.”
There are millions of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand and illegal migrants are facing the arrests of Thai authorities.
More arrests are likely to be made at the end of the year, according to labour activists.
