CNI News
28 Mar 2023
As authorities have seized military equipment and medicines from a building where Myanmar nationals were residing in Mae Sot in Tak Povince in Thailand recently, authorities are likely to tighten security and conduct more inspections, labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI.
Acting on a tip-off that members of the People Defence Force entered Thailand illegally and were residing in Mae Pa in Mae Sot, authorities raided a building and seized military equipment and medicines on 22nd March, according to the Bangkok Post.
Under such circumstances, authorities are likely to conduct more search operations and it doesn't bode well for illegal migrant workers, Labour activists U Min Oo of the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI.
Thai authorities raided the four-storey building resided by Myanmar nationals on 22nd March, 2023.
He said, "Authorities will conduct more raids. When they receive intelligence about such organizations and their locations, they will conduct raids. They were conducting search operations for illegal migrant workers before. Now, the situation has worsened. Undocumented migrants may also be arrested with them. Undocumented workers are required to be cautious as cats might be caught in the traps for rabbits. The impact will be suffered most severely in Mae Sot. It is estimated that there are about 50,000 of them in Mae Sot. They are not illegal or legal workers and refugees. Undocumented workers might be extorted while they are searching for wanted ones."
During the raids of buildings in Moe Sot, Thai authorities reportedly had photographs of wanted people.
Combined teams of Thai soldiers, immigration officers and regional authorities found about 200 Myanmar nationals living in the buildings and seized bullets, equipment, uniforms, drones, badges of some revolutionary forces and medical supplies, according to Thai news agencies.
A total of 83 Myanmar migrant workers were also detained for questioning and later released, according to labour activists for Myanmar workers in Thailand.
Seizures of military equipment by Thai authorities after raiding a four-storey building in Mae Sot.
Under current circumstances, security might be tightened.
Security in border area are likely to be tightened, labour activists for Myanmar migrant workers said.
Consultant U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI, "Although Thai prime minister is said to be elected democratically, he was a coup maker and former general. So, it is not safe for Myanmar nationals here to support movements in our country. Everyone must be cautious as much as possible, I just want to point out that. I think this will not have an impact on areas inside Thailand. Authorities have received tips-offs about movement of weapons and military equipment. The situation at inner provinces in Thailand will not be as bad as border areas.
As a result, illegal migrant workers in Thailand are required to be cautious and it is better for Myanmar nationals not to come to Thailand illegally, labour activists said.
