Northern Thailand

Myanmar Migrants Find Life In Thailand Is Hard Work

Migrant Workers crossing Boarder at Mae Sai into Chiangrai Thailand

CHIANG RAI – Recent reforms in Burma have not stopped thousands of migrant workers moving to Thailand in search of work. International workers organisations estimate that more than 2 million Burmese migrants have come to Thailand in search of better paid work.

It is estimated that in some villages in Karen State, that as many as 80% of young and middle-aged men and women have left. Locals claim the drain off young people out of Karen villages on the Thai Burma border, has reduced village populations of young people, that once numbered between 100 and 200, to as low as 10.

Burmese worker in Chiang Rai

Many of these villagers have left because of economic hardship, the high cost of living and low wages or the corrupt political situation in their homeland.

In an interview with Karen News, a young migrant worker from Lamphan village in Kyain Sikgyi Township, who asked not to be named, said that the majority of young people in his village left to seek work in Thailand.

“There are almost no young people in our village now. They have all gone to work [in Thailand]. My village is very quiet now. As a young person, I don’t find it exciting to live there anymore, so I have decided to find work here [in Thailand] as well.”

Grandma Nan Tar Moo Gyi, is 65 and was looking forward to an easier life in her old age, that was until her son and daughter left to work in Thailand and left their children behind for her to look after.

Grandma Nan Tar Moo Gyi lives in Hpa-an, Karen State and says she now has her hands full looking after her two grandchildren.

“Their parents left them with me when the [older] child was four months old. Now the child is almost seven years old. Their parents went to Bangkok to find money.”

Burmese children on the Thai side of the border with the Friendship Bridge in the background

This is not the first time that Grandma Tar Moo Gyi has had to look after her grandchildren while their parents worked in Thailand as this is the second lot of grandchildren that she is taking care of.

“When I was taking care of the first bunch, their parents didn’t need to send money home as I could still work and earn enough to raise them. Now, as I can’t work anymore, their parents have to send me 100,000 kyat [$100 USD] a month. Actually, one hundred thousand kyat is not enough. The price of milk, medicine and school fees for the children cost a lot more. The children get sick and need to see a doctor quite often. So, it is not enough for these expenses – we are in debt.”

At her age, grandma Nan Tar Moo Gyi said that she wants her children to come back from Thailand to care for their kids, but she is reluctant to ask them as the family has a lot of debts to pay back.

Speaking to Karen News, Nan Tar Moo Gyi said.

“I am thinking to ask my children to come back from Bangkok – they also would like to do so. But how are we going to deal with all the debts if they come back? Just the interest [on the debt] is a lot of money.”

Although Thailand increased the minimum wage to 300 baht (US$ 10) a day in 2012, most migrant workers receive less than 250 baht. Despite the better wages, the cost of living is expensive for migrant workers. They cannot earn enough to save – just enough to live on.

Poe Kay, 50, is a Karen construction worker. He has been working in Thailand for more 20 years and said that life is hard.

Burmese workers in Chiang Rai

“Work and life in Thailand is not easy. I work to get some money and then I’d get sick and my money is spent on healthcare. I cannot save any money. I have lived in Thailand for more than 20 years already. I have never gone back to my village.”

Workers who attempt to find employment in Thailand through labor brokers face more pressing problems. Broker fees can run between 5,000 baht and 12,000 baht. Many cases of abuse at the hands of brokers or employers in Thailand have been reported, with young women particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse.

The Migrant Worker Right Network (MWRN) has criticized the Burma and Thailand’s National Verification process for leaving migrant workers open to exploitation at the hands of corrupt brokers.

Many of these workers are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse in the workplace and a lack of job security. The situation has been hampered by both the Burma and Thai government’s inability to deliver a clear migration policy framework even though a National Verification process (NV) for migrant workers has been in place for 11 years.

In spite of the gradual rollout of the NV scheme, migrant workers are paying as much as five times what the process should legally cost due to broker charges.

Burma and Thailand agreed that migrant workers must pay 1,050 baht (US$3.3) to complete the NV process. Yet the Migrant Workers Right Network said that when broker charges and “under the table” costs are added up, each worker spent 5,500 to 12,000 baht (US$180-400) for getting a temporary passport and work permit.

With 1.7 million migrants completing the process this means brokers, agencies and officials through exploitation and corruption have already made at least 5,100 million baht (US$170 million) from the NV process. At the same time, low-income earning migrant workers have found themselves in “more debt, often leading to severe debt bondage, and seen their savings decline.”

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.