Migrant workers detained by Thai troops near Thai-Cambodian border

Two groups of Cambodians, totalling 14, were arrested by Thai troops near the border on Wednesday after they slipped across the natural border to seek jobs at the Rong Klua market in Aranyaprathet district of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province.

The first group of nine, including four men, three women and two girls, were found hiding in a sugarcane plantation in Ban Non Pattana village, Pan Suek sub-district, about 1.6km from the un-demarcated border line.

They all claimed that they each paid 4,000 baht to a guide, who helped them slip across the border to find jobs at market.

Soon after, another army patrol stumbled upon a group of 12 people from Myanmar, comprising ten men and two women, as they tried to slip across the border into Poipet in Cambodia, with the help of a guide. They claimed that a job broker paid all the expenses for their illegal travel to Cambodia to work.

At about 6am on the same day, a Thai Army patrol found four Cambodians, one man and three women, walking through a forest in Ban Rai sub-district and took them into custody.

All claimed that they came from Banteay Meanchey province, with an intention to work as shoe repairers at Rong Klua market in Aranyaprathet. They said they knew it was illegal to enter Thailand through a natural crossing, but they had no choice because there are no jobs for them in Cambodia.

All the illegal migrants were taken to the Klong Luk police station for legal processing, before they are deported to their home countries.