Nearly 6,000 Myanmar citizens apprehended from Jan to early March for illegal entry to Thailand

Myanmar citizens seen after being arrested for illegal entry to Thailand. - Eleven Media Group/ANN

YANGON, March 7 (Eleven Media Group/ANN): Nearly 6,000 Myanmar citizens who had illegally entered Kanchanaburi and Prachutkirikan Districts of Thailand between January and first week of March this year were arrested, the Thai media reported.

The Myanmar citizens who entered into Thailand primarily went through jungle tracks along Kanchanaburi and Prachutkirikan Districts bordering Taninthayi Region.

Brokers who brought these Myanmar workers made use of these jungle tracks along the Taninthayi Region border.

A resident of Mawtaung border region said, "Htikhi border area in Dawei District, Taninthayi Region is bordering Punam village in Kanchenaburi Township. Mawtaung town in Myeik District is bordering Dancingkhun village in Prachutkirikan Township, Thailand.

"In order to get across these border areas the Myanmar citizens make use of the jungle tracks. Some manage to escape, but with great luck. We hear every day about people getting caught. If the situation at the border is not good the brokers leave the people and they become easy target for the Thai security and get nabbed".

Although there was an increase in Myanmar citizens leaving for Thailand since the beginning of 2021, the number was the most in January 2022.

According to the Thai Military Public Relations Department and the Thai media within the month of January 2022 nearly 5000 Myanmar citizens that had crossed into Thailand illegally were caught.

One Myanmar worker in Thailand said, "There are a lot of job opportunities in Thailand. There is need of workforce. The entrepreneurs call for workers in advance, and then plan to work on their papers. Some try to get the papers done before hand. As there is requirement for workers here those already at work have to work tirelessly.

"There are some who try to come to Thailand because their relations here call them, and in their effort to get here they get caught. Often there is checking at work sites. I would encourage them to come here legally. It is not known whether the MoU system is viable. We see a lot of Cambodians coming over".

It was learnt that in February and early March 2022 more than 1000 illegal Myanmar entrants had been nabbed. Myanmar workers had been trying to go to work sites in Bangkok, Samutsakhun, Prachutkirikan, Pathunhtani, Ranoung, Chunburi, Nasikhunmarat, Mahachai, Phetburi, and Nakhunpathon regions.

The Myanmar citizens have to pay the brokers between 18000 and 25000 Thai baht per person and yet end up in trouble due to arrests. - Eleven Media Group/ANN