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Leaving the creek and seeking the r



Subject: Leaving the creek and seeking the river  (Continued from 13-12-99)

The New Light of Myanmar
Wednesday, 15 December, 1999

Leaving the creek and seeking the river 

(Continued from 13-12-99)

Those who went by Kawthaung-Ranong route got only hard jobs at fish godowns, 
fish packing godowns, prawn factories, saw mills, as boatmen, masonry 
workers, paints workers and gardeners. Those who became crewmen on fishing 
schooners earned about 2500 baht, only leading men getting up to 5000. It was 
very arduous and very near to mortal danger. Fish sorters got three baht per 
kilo, crab shellers got ten per kilo (about 60 ticals), prawn shellers got 
three per kilo. Prawn factory workers got 14 baht per hour. Saw mill workers 
got 2100 baht a month. Furniture workers got 3000 to 4000 baht a month. 
Overtime work was not for Myanmars, only for Thais. Masonry and paints 
workers got 100 to 150 a day.

Often Myanmar workers at Chungphung, Hatrai, Phuket, Mahachai, Surat Thani, 
Ranong and Galok were arrested by the Police or Immigration; any testimonials 
they might have to show were torn into pieces and they got arrested before, 
such roundups were occasional but after last October and November they became 
more frequent. They got detained in police lock-ups from one to 45 days.

The returnees said that they had to work hard in difficult conditions whereas 
runaways, fugitives and terrorists who turned against the motherland had it 
easy-going. Those staying in 24 insurgent camps called refugee camps opened 
along the border and those living and moving about around Bangkok were having 
an easy time, getting ample outside assistance including United Nations 
refugee assistance. Such characters could seize and loot Myanmar Embassy in 
Bangkok, and hijack planes. They even could lock up UN officials who cut 
allowances. In contrast, the returnees said, they were not disloyal to the 
motherland They went across the border illegally to get jobs because they 
thought they could get good incomes and save. They had always to be suffering 
persecution by employers and arrests by Thai Police and Immigration.

Those kept in Thai police lock-ups were afterwards pushed towards Myanmar 
side of the border. Some went back around by another way into Thailand. 
Workers were wanted not only by Thai enterprises but also by foreign 
investment enterprises in Thailand. They did not want such expulsions. They 
have even come to make hard statements that they would have to move their 
businesses out of that country if expulsions went on to dislocate workers.

The ones we saw were those detained one to 45 days at Galok, Hatrai, 
Mahachai, Surat Thani and Chungphung. They were sent back on three trucks to 
Ranong lock-up on November 11 and thence to the edge of Pachan River at Phau 
Thok Village in Thailand near Maran Village on Thai-Myanmar border. They were 
loaded onto the readily-waiting powered boats and despatched to Myanmar side, 
from where the local people conveyed them to Kawthaung Township Peace and 
Development Council.

While the men had to do hard work suffering all sorts of persecution in the 
other country, women had their lives ruined at the hands of job brokers, 
slave traders and pimps finding prostitutes for the other country. Young 
Myanmar women who got to the other country under persuasion by those trading 
in human beings via Myanmar border were those who went along thinking they 
would get good honest well-paid jobs. But they were violated by the brokers 
and sold off to bars, restaurants, karaoke lounges and brothels. Many a time 
such smuggling in humans was exposed and stopped by Myanmar authorities.

Myanmars workers in fishery enterprises had to work from 8 am to 5 pm but did 
not get the same wages as Thais. They got only about half. If one got the ire 
of employers for one reason or the other, one got sacked, arrested by Thai 
Police, and roughed up by henchmen of employers. Some who asked for due 
payments got intimidated with threats at gunpoint. Many became slaves having 
to work without any payment.

Some women who had looks often vanished from mills and factories and 
disappeared altogether. As they did not go out of the country legally, 
nothing could be known or done by Myanmar authorities. Some who became unable 
to do hard work got beaten up by others. Some potions usually given to horses 
were given to Myanmar boatmen together with drinks to get them to do hard 
work. What was worse they were put on fish poaching vessels in Myanmar and 
Indonesian waters. Some given horse potions, hard drinks and drugs got 
deranged. Some died. There were also many who died of malaria. Some suffered 
persecution of boat owners and helmsmen and some even got killed.

Myanmar workers, leaving the creek and seeking the river, suffered more 
persecution and less pay, and looked unpretty on way home. There were a few 
who came back with a bundle, but in fact they were ones who went to work 
legally. Many who went illegally usually used up all their earnings enjoying 
themselves and came back empty-handed. Though not even able to bring back a 
TV set, some brought back HIV (AIDS) viruses. All these are true stories 
retold by those who went out illegally and personally underwent miseries over 
there. It is for one and all to ponder over them and act prudently.

Author : Maung Myo Kaung