21 Myanmar migrants entering Thailand territorial waters illegally get arrested

February 14, 2023 (Narinjara)

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

They came from Kawthaung city by boat and were arrested when the Thai police inspected the boat on February 12 around 6:00 p.m., Ko Saw Maung, who handles Myanmar migrant workers' affairs, told Narinjara.

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

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

All of them have been arrested and detained at the Ranong police station in Thailand and are likely to face legal action.

Ko Saw Maung suggested that Myanmar nationals who want to work in Thailand should only come with a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). If they enter illegally, they will have to pay the broker and if they are arrested by the Thai police, they will lose the money, and because they come from an illegal route, they can be prosecuted for border crossing and smuggling cases.