The content in this page ("Migrant workers sorely neglected" by Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation) is not produced by Prachatai staff. Prachatai merely provides a platform, and the opinions stated here do not necessarily reflect those of Prachatai.

Migrant workers sorely neglected

Group says more than a thousand stranded without food, water or shelter; getting calls for urgent aid

At least 1,500 migrant workers, mostly from Burma, are still trapped in the flood-hit provinces of Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi and lack adequate food, water and live in fear, said Ko Naing, legal coordinator for the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB).

At Rojana Industrial Estate, at least 300 workers are trapped in a building after more than two weeks and have run out of drinking water. They now depend on whatever rain water they can collect, said Ko Naing.

Ko Naing said there isn't enough relief supplies and boats to help these affected workers at the moment. Many areas where these migrant are trapped were also kept a secret because workers without a permit fear they may be arrested by the authorities despite the Labour Ministry issuing a moratorium on the arrest of illegal migrant worker.

"I urge that there be no arrest at the moment," he said. "We need more food and water as well as boats," said Ko Naing. TACDB operates the relief effort with four other NGOs, including the Friends of Women Foundation.

Some who fled on their own have faced further hardship. One of them called Ko Naing on Friday, saying his wallet was taken by a security officer after he fled from Pathum Thani province to Bangkok's Victory Monument area. "I didn't know what to do. He just sat and cried. It was a double blow," Ko Naing recalled.

A mosque in Pathum Thani has even refused to offer food and water to some Muslim migrant workers, the Bangkok-based coordinator said. In Ayutthaya, 200 are still trapped on Uthai Bridge.

"Please help the Burmese, Laotians and Cambodians, too, and not just Thais. They are also human," Ko Naing pleaded, adding that some 200 Laotian workers are also amongst those being assisted by TACDB and its partners.

Ko Naing said the Burmese Embassy had done little other than send a few workers back to Burma.

When contacted by The Nation, Amara Pongsapith, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said the commission had not done anything yet. She added, however, "we will look into it".

One NHRC staffer, who asked not to be identified, said the organisation was dysfunctional and it seemed as if the commission "doesn't work" at the current time.

Those interested in donating food, water and other relief goods to TACDB and its partners can do so at Thai Christian Students Centre next to Saphan Hua Chang in Pathumwan district of Bangkok or call Ko Naing at 084-646-4018 or 02-216-4463.

Source: 
<p>http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Migrant-workers-sorely-neglected-30168848.html</p>

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