Millions of migrants are threatened by the Royal Thai Government (RTG) with deportation after 28th February 2010 if they fail to enter a nationality verification process (NV). Senior officials stress this deadline is non-negotiable and mass deportations will occur if migrants or employers do not comply.
Over 80% of registered migrants in Thailand (or 1.1 million persons) are from Burma and face ethnic and political conflict as well as continuing economic deterioration in their homeland, which is controlled by a military government. Migrants from Burma left their country illegally but are being pressured by the RTG to submit their biographical information to Burma’s military government. If accepted as “Burmese” these migrants must return to Burma to complete NV and return to work “legally” in Thailand with temporary Burmese passports. Hundreds of thousands of unregistered Burmese migrants are excluded from NV and have no option but deportation after 28th February 2010.
Somchai Homlaor, Secretary General of the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) today said: “The RTG must immediately extend the 28th February deadline and cease threats of mass deportation. Mass deportations will serve only to harm both Thailand’s economy which remains heavily reliant on migrant labour as well as Thailand’s international reputation. But more importantly, sticking to this rigid deadline means after 28th February migrants will fall victim to gross exploitation as they are forced underground at a politically sensitive time for Thailand. Systematic corruption will then prosper.”
• Only around 25, 000 migrants from Burma have so far completed NV
• Only around 200, 000 migrants from Burma have so far entered NV
• Most migrants in Thailand do not yet understand NV
• Genuine humanitarian concerns remain for migrants forced to go through NV in Burma
• Unregulated NV brokers are exploiting migrants with exorbitant fees
• Many migrants from Burma cannot and will not enter NV but no strategy to support them yet exists
Somchai adds: “Thailand’s migration policies must be carefully planned to ensure protection of migrants’ human rights. The NV process has not been well thought out and remains a serious threat to the human security of over 2 million workers that contribute greatly to our economy and society.”
On 16th February 2010 at the UN’s offices in Bangkok, complaint letters were submitted to Special Rapporteurs on the Human Rights of Migrants and on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar as well as the Director General of the International Labour Organisation. Over 200 migrants, unionists and rights defenders then marched to Government House to submit an open letter of concern to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, signed by over 60 domestic, regional and international rights groups and trade unions. The open letter demanded amongst other things an end to threats of mass deportation for migrants, NV for Burmese migrants in Thailand and not Burma and strict regulation of NV brokers.
For further media comment on this press release, please contact:
• Mr. Somchai Homlaor (Secretary General, HRDF): +66 818 995476 (Thai/English)
• Mr. Andy Hall (Director, HRDF’s Migrant Justice Programme): +66 846 119209 (English/Thai)
• Mr. Hseng Htay (Fieldworker, HRDF’s Migrant Justice Programme): +66 830 139736 (Burmese)
