Burmese Minister Tells Migrant Workers Not to Fear Harassment

Burmese deputy foreign minister Maung Myint has promised that Burmese migrant workers in Thailand who have to return temporarily to Burma to obtain temporary passports will not be subject to harassment or the threat of arrest.

Burmese migrants wanting to work legally in Thailand have to follow a complicated procedure involving personal appearances at one of three offices inside Burma to obtain identification papers and passports valid for two years.

Burmese workers sorting the catch at a fish market in Phuket, Thailand. (Photo: AFP)

The three offices are at Myawaddy, Tachilek and Kawthaung. Migrant workers have until February 2010 to apply.

Many fear harassment and even arrest if they visit the offices, but Maung Myint sought to dispel their concern at a meeting with Thai officials which ended on Tuesday.

“There is no reason to arrest or harass those who apply for passports nor their parents and relatives,” Maung Myint said. “I also repeatedly guaranteed that there is no taxation [on migrants’ applications]”. 

Maung Myint said the aim of issuing temporary passports is to protect the Burmese migrant workers in Thailand and to grant them equal rights.

The Rangoon-based Weekly Eleven News Journal reported that about 1,000 migrant workers have applied for temporary passports since the offices opened in July.

Thai and Burmese authorities have agreed to issue 600 two-year-passports per day. Migrants who do not apply for the passport will be deported to Burma, according to Thai authorities.

Confusion about the new regulations and the costs involved are preventing many migrant workers from applying for passports. Apart from fees payable to the Burmese authorities, applicants must also pay 2,000 baht (US $60) for a Thai visa.

Some workers complain they are paying more than 7,000 baht ($250) to complete the formalities.

Despite Maung Myint’s assurances, migrant rights groups in Thailand say many Burmese migrant workers doubt the word of the Burmese government.

Moe Swe, a spokesman of the Mae Sot-based Young Chi Oo Burmese Workers Association said: “The problem is that the migrant workers don’t believe the Burmese government. So, they dare not give their real names, ID details or addresses in Burma.”  

The Chiang Mai-based Migrant Assistance Program (MAP) says many migrants fear arrest if they apply within Burma for the temporary passports.

An estimated 4 million Burmese migrants live and work in Thailand, according to MAP.