Thai Policy Towards Shan Refugees
Regrettably, the Thai Government has no policy of accepting refugees from the Shan State.
Whereas refugees from Karen, Karenni, Mon States have been granted temporary asylum in Thailand and the right to receive “Humanitarian Assistance from International Aid Organizations” Shan refugees fleeing to Thailand have been repeatedly push back across the border by Thai authorities.
The result of the Thai policy has meant that until the present, any fleeing to Thai soil have been forced to try survive as illegal migrants. The risk and difficulties this involves have compounded their suffering.
Up until now, there has been no official Thai acknowledgement of huge influx of Shan refugees.
High numbers of Shan crossing the border to find job while a huge demand for migrant laborers in the Thai construction industry . Construction in Thailand is booming and contractors prefer to hire migrant laborers as the coast is much cheaper.
It can be estimated that a minimum of 2,000 Shans cross over during a month. A large scale arrests of refugees that occurred daily in border. It is likely that Thai authorities are not aware of the exodus caused by the forced relocation. It can only be assumed that as long as the official Thai policy is to deny asylum for Shan refugees.
It is expedient to deny that the problem exists.
