MARINE Rangers and Chanthaburi police arrested 45 Cambodian migrants who had illegally crossed the border to Thailand via a natural channel after being unable to endure hardship in their own country, TV Channel 7 said today (Sep. 30).
Acting on a tipoff Capt. Kraisorn Photun, head of 2nd Marine Ranger Control Unit, joined forces with Chanthaburi Immigration police in arresting this large group of Khmer migrants, with there being 27 men and 18 women in 26 to 43 age bracket, along with their three guides at Pong Nam Ron district.
Upon being questioned, one of the three guides said a Cambodian woman, Nang Nuan, hired them for 250 baht per migrant to bring them to Thailand via a natural route and drop them off at an irrigation canal where another guide, Mr. Chalermchai, was to take them further inland where they were then to be taken to their various destinations.
The arrested Khmer migrants had come from various provinces of Cambodia including Battambang, Bonteay Meanchey and Prey Veng. They said a broker had approached them to come and work in Thailand and as they were in the grips of poverty and with no income to support their families they decided to do so.
They were heading for jobs in various Thai provinces including Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chonburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima as well as Bangkok with their employers having paid 5,000 to 7,000 baht each to bring them over depending on the distance.
They were all handed over to Immigration officers in Chanthaburi for further legal action.
CAPTION:
The arrested Cambodian migrant workers. Photo – TV Channel 7
Also read:
Anutin dumbfounded over vote-wooing copay allegations
Public referendum on new charter, Thai-Khmer MoUs may be held on same day alongside general election
PM outlines policies to parliament amid economic challenges
Thaksin to literally get out of jail to supervise fellow inmates clearing sewer conduits
Klatham competes against Bhumjaithai for future southern MPs
Luxury home market attracting more developers but demand limited
Phayao heavily flooded as weakened typhoon moves in
