While Thailand proceeds with its National Verification (NV) program with migrant workers from Burma, junta authorities in Shan State East have also recently issued directives to township councils to gather data on the number of people who have left their communities to work in Thailand, according to a source close to junta officials.
According to the source, the majority of those in each township that are working in Thailand are Shans.
“Pongpakhem (sub-township in Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai) is a good example,” he says.
According to him, there are 801 people from the sub-township working in Chiangmai:
Race Male Female Total
- Shan 309 317 616 (76.9%)
- Lahu 47 33 80 (9.9%)
- Lisu 17 30 47
- Palaung 12 11 23
- Kokang 7 7 14
- Burman 3 4 7
- Kachin 2 1 3
- Pa O 1 - 1
“More are leaving after the weather destroyed their poppy fields,” he added.
His account was confirmed by a human rights worker on the border who said most of the recent arrivals are those whose poppy crops had failed during the last season followed by those who are fleeing military recruitment program’s launched by junta authorities as well as local armed movements.
There are 55 townships in Shan State, 10 in Shan State East alone.
No reason for the latest move has been disclosed. But the source believes it is an information gathering exercise by junta authorities.
