Twenty arrested on the way to Thailand

2009 April 9
tags: Burma, Human Rights, Junta, Karen, migrants, world focus on Burma
by peacerunning
Thu 09 Apr 2009, Layi Mon, IMNATwenty people, including four children, were arrested at a checkpoint in Phaungsein
village, Thanphyuzayat Township on the evening of April 5th while attempting to migrate to Thailand. The migrants had arranged their transport through a broker who provided a truck and a driver but did not accompany them himself. The police had been informed of their journey in advance by a rival broker and the group was taken to Thanphyuzayat police station. However, the driver was not arrested.
According to a Thanphyuzayat resident, the group was on the way to Tavoy when the arrests occurred. “The children were released on the same day and the women on the next day, April 6th. The men were detained for longer. Their relatives had to pay for everyone to get out, except for the children,” said the resident.
According to a source close to Thanphyuzayat police, “the amount of money paid by those arrested varied depending on their relationship with the police. Three people had to pay 100,000 Kyat between them.” However, two of the others arrested paid only 5000 Kyat each. IMNA called Thanpyuzayart police station and talked to a policeman who said, “we arrested people who were going to Thailand. If you’re a relative of one of them, don’t phone, just come and talk to us.”
On the same evening that the twenty migrants were arrested a group of three people from Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State were also travelling to Thailand on the Thanpyuzayart to Tavoy road. The three were travelling independently without the assistance of a broker.
One of the three said, “our truck was in front of theirs at the checkpoint when they were arrested. Because there were only three of us and the police didn’t think we were going to Thailand they didn’t stop us.”
In Burma there are public notices and announcements in the media warning people that if they attempt to leave for work in other countries they may be arrested and fined or possibly jailed.