Regional News
Exiled Student Leaders Return to Myanmar
Aung Naing Oo is greeted by relatives upon his return to his homeland for the first time at Yangon international airport on February 10, 2012.
CHIANGRAI TIMES – Aung Naing Oo fled Myanmar more than two decades ago, trekking through dense tropical jungles to escape the country’s military regime. On Friday, he plans to return—the latest in a growing number of Myanmar exiles who are going back to their home country as it rekindles ties with the outside world.
Ruled for decades by a harsh military regime, Myanmar has undergone a series of changes over the past year. A new civilian government that took power after elections in 2010 has loosened Internet restrictions, freed political prisoners and pursued economic reforms to attract more foreign investors. The U.S. and other Western nations have indicated they may lift economic sanctions against the country if changes continue later this year.
A lesser-known—but important—reform involves the Myanmar government’s effort to lure back dissidents who abandoned the country over the past 25 years. Their departure to escape persecution by the military resulted in a massive drain that deprived Myanmar of some of its best minds.
Now, the government wants some of them back. Although it hasn’t spelled out its intentions in detail, analysts believe officials want to show they are serious about reform, and want to benefit from the exiles’ years of study and work abroad. After years of isolation, Myanmar is among the poorest nations in Asia, and securing the help of some of its exiles—whose numbers are estimated in the tens of thousands—could help to turn that around. For the government, the return of exiles might also be seen as an endorsement of its reforms.
Aung Naing Oo (R), foreign affairs secretary for the exiled students group All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and Teddy Buri, Minister of the prime minister office of the National Coalition Government of Burma, speak during an interview in Bangkok in this file foto. REUTERS/Patrick de Noirmont
Most Myanmar exiles have remained wary of the government’s overtures, refusing to head back until they’re confident authorities are serious about reform and wouldn’t just throw them in jail. But as changes snowball, some are growing more comfortable about taking the plunge.
Among them: Aung Zaw, the editor of a Thailand-based news publication, the Irrawaddy, who is known for his scathing editorials about the country’s former military regime.
Mr. Aung Zaw went to Yangon this week for the first time since September 1988 on a five-day, government-approved visa after reaching out to officials about making a brief return.
In his younger days as a student activist who protested the government, he was thrown in prison and tortured before he escaped on foot to Thailand and started the Irrawaddy.
But he was treated well by officials on his latest trip, he said, with authorities welcoming him to the capital of Naypyitaw for cordial multihour meetings.
“I’m happy to be back here,” he said by phone late Thursday after also catching up with friends and opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who advised him to keep working for change, he said. He said he found residents to be relaxed and hopeful, but still somewhat skeptical about some of the latest changes. “I don’t think anyone is expecting any immediate miracles after 20 or 30 years” of military rule, he said, adding “I don’t know the future yet.”
Other prominent exiles that have gone recently include academics and activists based in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Some other activists are also heading out of Myanmar for the first time, confident the government won’t block their return. In past years, activists who remained in-country—including Ms. Suu Kyi—were afraid to leave because they didn’t know if they’d be allowed back home again. Ms. Suu Kyi famously declined to leave in 1999 when her husband, Michael Aris, was dying of cancer in London, and she was unable to be with him when he died.
Now some prominent dissidents are going in and out of the country repeatedly, including Zarganar, a prominent comedian who goes by one name. After his release from several years of house arrest late last year, he left Myanmar for the first time to visit Bangkok, followed by a trip to the U.S. On Wednesday, he was among a group of Myanmar dissidents who met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington.
Mr. Aung Naing Oo, who goes to Myanmar Friday, is one of the better-known Thailand-based exiles who have made plans to return. A former student activist, he participated in pro-democracy protests in Yangon in 1988 that were brutally crushed by Myanmar’s military, leaving more than 3,000 people dead.
He hid out in Myanmar’s ethnic Karen state, near the Thai border. After a couple of years in the jungle, he moved on to Thailand, where he was involved in exile political circles in Bangkok. He didn’t make contact with his parents for nearly a decade.
He traveled to the U.S. and Europe, married a Scottish aid worker, and got a master’s degree in public administration at Harvard. Then, in 2000, he moved to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, where he later co-founded a nonprofit think tank called the Vahu Development Institute that studies Myanmar reforms and trains civil-society leaders, including many from Myanmar.
A year or so ago, he said, it started to become clearer that Myanmar was changing. The military junta held its first election in 20 years in late 2010, and while the politicians that won were for the most part linked to the military, they began implementing reforms to open more public debate and re-engage with the Western world.
“We knew change was coming, but no one could predict the change would be this quick,” he said.
In August, the government announced it wanted exiles to return—a move promoted as part of a wider effort to bring reconciliation to the country. Although it included no guarantees of security for dissidents, as reforms gained momentum more of Mr. Aung Naing Oo’s friends started going back, in some cases to advise the government. “The government is overwhelmed with all the changes” and needs help, he said.
Mr. Aung Naing Oo and his colleagues reached out to officials, including a government minister, about the possibility of coming back. The government agreed to give him a one-time, month long entry permit. He’ll be traveling with three other colleagues from Vahu.
He said he believes there are still divisions within the Myanmar government, with some officials who want to slow down reforms. But he thinks there has been enough change in Myanmar that he can trust the government not to toss him in prison. “Otherwise I wouldn’t dream about going back,” he said.
After arriving Friday morning, he said he’ll be met by colleagues and his parents, who also visited him in Thailand recently. He said he hopes to meet with government officials and civil society leaders.
He is also hoping to determine if it is possible to move back permanently, possibly in a year or two. He said he has heard home prices in Myanmar have become “like Hollywood: through the roof” since the country’s political opening began.
“I’m excited, but there’s also fear,” he said. “Most of us have been quite settled in Thailand, for 24 years. None of us are rich, but we live all right, away from hassles. And it’s easy to criticize whoever is not doing right in our eyes from afar.”
—Celine Fernandez contributed to this article.
Write to Patrick Barta at [email protected]
Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.
Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.
“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”
Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.
Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.
It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.
Migrant Workers to be Deported
According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.
Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.
Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.
He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.
All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.
According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.
Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.
“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.
Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers
The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.
Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.
Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.
According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.
However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.
“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”
Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers
Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers
Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.
According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.
According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.
According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.
The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.
Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.
The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.
According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.
The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.
Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.
Electrical accidents in Thailand
Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.
Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.
Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.
The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.
Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand
Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand
Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.
Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.
He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.
He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.
Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.
Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Police Chief Reinstated
In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.
Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.
The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.
Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.
Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.
On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.
Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.
Source: Bangkok Post
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