By Yoon Sat - May 24, 2024
It is reported that the illegal Burmese workers are concerned about Thai authorities are collecting biometric information in the districts where many Myanmar nationals live.
There are many Myanmar nationals who are legally staying as well as many who are living illegally, so this collection of biological information is said to be a concern for those who are living illegally.
“Those who have migrated for political reasons do not dare to give the information now, it may be dangerous if this information gets into pro Juntas’ hands,” said labor activist Daw Wai Wai Tin.
Only the Burmese nationals are collected for the bio-data among other foreigners in 5 districts where most Myanmar citizens presence including Tak and Samut Sakhon. Around 10,000 Myanmar workers are collected eye and face scans and Burmese nationals from other districts will be collected as well according to the sources.
Regarding such a survey, authorities said it is for health reasons, and the difficulties and social health conditions faced by Myanmar every day and that there is no need to worry about harassment after asking the information obtained. 600 people per day will be surveyed.
“There might be plans to arrest when they are issuing documents for illegal workers but this survey will not raise the arrests. They can’t be arrested more than this. There are also arrests in the night time but not because of this project,” said a Burmese migrant activist in Thailand.
Although the collection of biological data is titled as a health survey, only those with the UID card which the biological data were collected are allowed to travelled to foreign countries in Myanmar too. This kind of collection and restriction of biological records both domestically and abroad is a deliberate act to create a crisis for the security of the people according to a Myanmar national in Thailand.
There are many Myanmar nationals in Thailand who oppose the military dictatorship including workers, Labor activists say that this collection of biological information is a concern for everyone's safety.
