Well over 600 Myanmar workers staying undocumented in Mae Sot of Tak Province in Thailand were arrested within four days from October 19 to 22.

According to border and labour affairs observers, Thai authorities are speeding up arrests of undocumented Myanmar citizens as internal clashes occur in the border town of Myawady and elsewhere in Kayin State. 

Since October 19 after fighting started to break out along Dawna Mountain Road in Myawady on October 18, Thai authorities have tightened security along the border and increased arrest. On that day alone, over 600 undocumented Myanmar workers were arrested at their factories or staff quarters, said Ko Thar Gyi from KTG social welfare association working on labour affairs. 

“In several towns including Mae Sot in Tak Province, Thai authorities started arrests on October 19. Over 600 Myanmar citizens were arrested on that day alone. There were also some arrests from October 20 to 22. The reason they have increased arrests even at factories and staff quarters is that there are clashes in our border town of Myawady and security has been tightened on the Thai border, Ko Thar Gyi said. 

Likewise, Thai security forces are increasing arrests of those illegally crossing the Myanmar border to Thailand. A total of 33 illegal Myanmar migrants were arrested in two days from October 21 to 22. The arrestees are 15 males and 18 females coming from Mawlmyine, Yangon, Bago and Rakhine State. Each of them had to pay 20,000 to 30,000 baht as a broker fee to be illegally transported to Thailand.