The Ministry of Labor said on Friday that more than 43,000 Cambodians had been deported from or fled Thailand during a junta-led roundup of illegal migrant workers, while the opposition put the figure at tens of thousands and warned of an economic crisis caused by the influx of unemployed citizens.
Also on Friday, Thai Ambassador Pakdi Touchayoot denied claims made by local rights group Adhoc that up to nine Cambodian workers had been shot during the military raids.
“We have checked with all Thai authorities concerned, but there are no reports of the killing of nine Cambodian people. So we deny that,” Mr. Pakdi said. “We are requesting the allegations of where it happened and when it happened from Adhoc.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the Cambodian ambassador to Thailand had received a similar declaration from the government of Thailand.
However, Soum Chankea, Adhoc’s Banteay Meanchey provincial coordinator, stood by the information, saying the group interviewed witnesses to the shootings.
“I have video clips and recordings of the witnesses when I interviewed them. If our government needs it, I will give it to them,” he said.
Speaking in Poipet City, Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng told reporters that 43,600 Cambodian migrant workers had been repatriated across all border checkpoints since the roundup began early this month.
Most workers, he said, were illegal migrants.
“We appeal to the Thai authorities to return workers with humanitarian care. Don’t exploit them,” he said, referring to widespread reports that soldiers had demanded bribes from those deported.
He also said the government was preparing a jobs creation blitz to address the influx of workers.
“If a worker doesn’t have the expertise, the Ministry of Labor will have a course to train them to find a good job,” he said.
At a press conference held at the CNRP’s Phnom Penh headquarters, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the mass return would likely lead to an economic crisis and blamed the government for failing to create jobs in the first place.
“In the last few days, Thai police, armed forces and authorities arrested and gathered [Cambodian workers] in order to send them back to Cambodia,” Mr. Rainsy said. “A lot [have been sent back], up to tens of thousands and it still hasn’t stopped because I have heard that Thai authorities plan to send them back in a series.”
“Based on the information that I received, at least about 500,000 Cambodian workers [are living in Thailand],” Mr. Rainsy added.
“Mr. Hun Sen’s economic government is a weak economy, and it made its citizens poor. It has made no jobs, so citizens were forced to work in Thailand,” said Mr. Rainsy. “It will become an economic, society, political, and national crisis…. It affects their lives and their relatives.”
While precise figures for the number of illegal Cambodian workers in Thailand don’t exist, the governments of both countries have estimated that between 160,000 and 200,000 are working illegally in Thailand. Adhoc has put the figure closer to 400,000.
The CNRP provided 600 baht, or about $18.50, to 51 returned workers and bussed them from Poipet City to Phnom Penh on Friday in order for them to discuss the situation with the press. Few, however, seemed interested in talking party politics and had more pressing issues on their minds.
“I request to the Cambodian government and the authorities, please help our citizens because now we are returning with no job, so we do not have money support ourselves,” said Nim Sam Ath, 50, who had worked in Thailand for more than a year.
“I decided to work in Thailand because I did not have enough money to feed my wife and my children because I am poor,” he added.
Av Sophy, 55, another migrant worker, said that he and another 19 Cambodians paid 2,000 baht, or about $62, to hire a driver to bring them to Poipet City in order to avoid arrest.
But instead, the driver dumped them in the forest, were they were promptly picked up by police who demanded a bribe of 200 baht, about $6, each before returning them home.
“I hope that the Cambodian government will find a job for us,” he said.
(Additional reporting by Colin Meyn)
Correction: A previous version of this story referred to Koy Kuong as the Foreign Minister. He is the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CNRP President Sam Rainsy was also incorrectly quoted as saying that 500,000 Cambodian migrant workers have been returned to the country by Thai authorities. Mr. Rainsy estimated that 500,000 Cambodians are working in Thailand, and that “tens of thousands” have returned.
