BANGKOK—About 300 Burmese migrant workers are trapped in the Bon Kai intersection area where anti-government protesters confronted government troops.

Caught there since Friday last week, the migrants have been unable to get out as government troops strengthened their crackdown on Redshirt protesters, blocking nearby roads as heavy security forces were deployed.

Fighting between remnants of protesters and government troops as well as incidents of arson in the Bon Kai zone are ongoing.

Bon Kai intersection is one of the stronghold bases where redshirt fighters faced off government troops.

U Ko, a Burmese migrant worker who remains inside the Bon Kai zone told The Irrawaddy by phone that they share food with their friends and the neighborhood.

“The migrants will be in worse trouble if this protest goes on longer,” he said, adding that many worry about losing their jobs.

Ko Sai, a Burmese student at Rangsit University in Bangkok, said it is difficult and risky for Burmese people, especially migrant workers, as there are many checkpoints.

“We feel there is no security for Burmese people in Bangkok,” he said, adding that Thai police can disregard their migrant passes.

“Some of us don’t have our passes as they are being held by our employers, so we would appear to be illegal to the police at checkpoints,” he said.

Some of the universities are closed, and his schedule has been delayed by a week, he said.

In Khao San Road, where young foreign backpackers usually crowd the sidewalks, one Burmese shopkeeper said sales had fallen drastically as few customers remained.

Burmese businessmen have also been affected as they have been unable to export goods to Burma since the crackdown on Redshirt protesters began.

The long Redshirt protest has affected the livelihoods and incomes of thousands of Burmese migrant workers in Bangkok, especially those who are working in the rally site areas as housemaids, waiters and translators, according to Thet Khaing, the coordinator of the migrant worker section in National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, the Washington-based Burmese government in exile.

“Worried occupants have left their homes and businesses due to the instability, leaving their employees behind,” Thet Khaing said.

The main rally sites were at Pratunam Market, Sukhumwit Road, the Night Bazaar near Silom Road and the area near Victory Monument.

“I have been in Bangkok for four years and I could send money to my family often, but now I haven’t sent anything for five months. I’m sure they are waiting for some money,” said Zaw Win Naing, who is currently waiting to return to his job in a restaurant which puts on a traditional puppet show.

The restaurant has more than 100 workers, 20 of whom are Burmese. All are waiting to return to their jobs, Zaw Win Naing said.

Migrant workers from Bangkok earn 6,000 to 20,000 baht [US $185-$615] a month, depending on their jobs. There are over 200,000 Burmese migrants in Bangkok, according to the Thai Labor Ministry.

Hla Minn Aung, who worked at a shop in the rally site area, said, “In the beginning of the protest, we just faced transportation problems, but the longer the protest continued, the more difficult it became.”

Some workers who have lost their incomes are having to dig into their savings, Hla Minn Aung said.

One migrant worker said, “The money I have is almost gone, and I have to pay the rent for my apartment at the end of the month. I have no idea what I am going to do next.”

Saw Jack, who is currently working for the Bangkok branch of Yaung Chi Oo, a Mae Sot-based migrant workers group, said “Employers told their workers to return to work when the protest is over, but the migrants have to wait longer because of fears over the identity card problem.”

Sai Zom Hseng also contribute this story.

By SAW YAN NAING Thursday, May 20, 2010