February 14, 2023 (Narinjara)

It is reported that 21 Myanmarmigrant workers were arrested by Thai police on February 12 in Thai territorialwaters in Pak Nam village, Mueang city, Ranong province, southern Thailand.

They came from Kawthaung cityby boat and were arrested when the Thai police inspected the boat on February12 around 6:00 p.m., Ko Saw Maung, who handles Myanmar migrant workers'affairs, told Narinjara.

"They entered Thailand byboat from the sea. They were arrested by the Thai police in Thai territorialwaters. All of them are young men. All those on the boat were arrested,"he said.

A person who was brought as aguide on the boat was also arrested. According to the questioning of theworkers, Thai media reported that they had to pay up to 18,000 baht to thebroker to work in construction sites in Chumphon province, Thailand.

All of them have been arrestedand detained at the Ranong police station in Thailand and are likely to facelegal action.

Ko Saw Maung suggested thatMyanmar nationals who want to work in Thailand should only come with a formalMemorandum of Understanding (MOU). If they enter illegally, they will have topay the broker and if they are arrested by the Thai police, they will lose themoney, and because they come from an illegal route, they can be prosecuted forborder crossing and smuggling cases.