Shan migrant workers in Fang raided

^{18 June 2008
By Hseng Khio Fah}

At 7:30, officials from Royal Forest Department, Immigration Police, Border Patrol Police and local Thai troops raided the community which is settled in a lychee plantation, near Wiangwai village, Mornpin village tract, and arrested both those holding red-edged green ID cards issued to alien highlanders and those without any ID. 

Around 50 people were taken to the monastery of Mornpin for interrogation.

The authorities asked, “Where did you get permission to seek asylum? Why did you come here? What are you doing here?

Those holding labour registration documents were released and the rest were taken to the Fang police station.

Until now, there has been no information from the authorities whether those 19 people will be released or not.

According to a villager, the authorities are still raiding nearby Banlan village today.

The reason for the raid was not disclosed, although according to some official sources, the land in which the Shans had settled was owned by a local drug trafficker who was recently arrested.

It was the second time of this year that the Thai authorities raided Shan migrant workers. The first time was on 3 April when a community of foreign highlanders in Sor Por Kor 4-01 land at Moo 18, Inthakhin Subdistrict, Mae Tang District, Chiang Mai was raided and 60 people were arrested.