Hundreds of Myanmar workers risk illegal Thailand crossing at Payathonzu every day
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Htet Nadi/Pearl (NP News) - Sep 23
A resident of Payathonzu told The Statesman that hundreds of Myanmar workers illegally cross into Thailand through the Payathonzu Pass almost every day.
Myanmar workers are permitted to be sent to Thailand on a limited basis, and currently there are illegal crossings through Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Payathonzu.
Those who want to work in Singapore, Japan, and the Middle East countries mostly go through the Tachileik border gate, while workers who want to work in Thailand go through the Payathonzu gate.
“A large number of people enter Thailand through the Payathonzu Pass. It is more common to walk from Myawaddy. Many people choose the Payathonzu Pass. There are over 500 people who pass the Payathonzu every day. Hundreds of people go to the Payathonzu Pass is every day. Some contracts are not signed by the government, so many people go to Thailand through that route. Some want to avoid military service. There are also many girls. Now more girls are going,” a local told The Statesman.
They cross from the Payathonzu to the Thai side by boats, walk a little to a town, and then cross again by boats until they reach the rubber plantations to find a job.
“Many people cross from Payathonzu to Thailand by boat. If you walk a little on that side you reach Kanchanaburi. Then, you can cross the river in boats. Most of the crossings happen at night. When they cross, they are covered by tarpaulins. Recently, three people fell off a boat after it hit the tree stumps in the water. They have to take boats again, and afterwards they arrive at the rubber plantations,” he continued.
Previously, the fare for traveling from Yangon to Payathonzu via Mudon used to be only about 30,000 kyats, but now, with the influx of illegal travelers to Thailand via the Payathonzu route, the fare has increased to about 300,000 kyats.
It is reported that the price becomes high because the drivers have to avoid some main road sections to Payathonzu which are heavily guarded by Tatmadaw checkpoints, and take a detour through forest roads, where they have to pay gate tolls to the armed groups. –