A RECENT crackdown on migrant workers in Thailand has targeted Cambodians more than any other group, according to statistics provided by a Bangkok-based human rights organisation.

Between June 16 and last Friday, Thai authorities arrested and detained 1,105 illegal Cambodian migrant workers, according to a summary report provided by the Human Rights and Development Foundation’s Migrant Justice Programme. The crackdown was approved in a June 2 order signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

This number is barely higher than the 1,103 migrant workers from Myanmar who have been arrested and detained, despite the fact that official statistics indicate that workers from Myanmar account for 80 percent of the total migrant population in Thailand.

MJP director Andy Hall said Sunday that the arrest statistics were “surprising”.

“The fact that more Cambodians have been arrested than Burmese is definitely strange,” he said.

“Official statistics indicate that 80 percent are from Burma, 10 percent are from Laos and 10 percent are from Cambodia.” A total of 301 Laotian workers have been arrested and detained.

Monday, 28 June 2010 15:02 Cameron Wells