How to Transport Illegal Migrants?: The Slavery Route of Trans-border labor from Mae Sot to Inner Area

Abstract

This study analyzes the transportation of illegal Myanmar labor from Mae Sot to inner area. Qualitative research was conducted using the investigative technique, which includes “spies” and “intelligence”. To identify key mechanisms of illegal labors, several groups of illegal laborers and their agents were interviewed. Data were collected by in-depth interviews coupled with illegal immigration case reports by state officers. The researchers adopted a triangulation method to verity data before analysis consisting of: illegal laborers, agencies, and reports from state officers. This study revealed that the transportation process for Burmese illegal trans-border labors (BITLs) occurred in three main areas. These included: 1) the entry point or the gateway, Mae Sot District, Tak province was the major entry point; 2) on the Asia Highway route AH 1, at least 2 different methods of the transportation were employed, the revealing method in which the transportation of BITLs were openly transported because the transporters, or the agencies, periodically paid state officials. And the concealing method which was employed to avoid inspection where they paid immediately if they were arrested by state officers. This method can be divided into 5 categories including: hiding in vehicle,  creating special hidden space in vehicle, hiding among goods or produces, disguising themselves as Thais, and using different varieties of transportation (e.g., by vehicle and by foot). Such illegal transportation forced upon laborers was dangerous and potentially violated their human rights. And 3) the hiding places included two shelter places; on Asia Highway route AH 1 (Baan Tak-Kamphaengphet), route 1175 (Mae Ra Mard-Baan Tak) and route 105 (Mae Sot-Tak). And at the border between the two provinces, Tak (Baan Tak, Muang Tak and Wang Jao districts) and Kamphaengphet (Kosumpinakorn and Klonglan district). The shelter was small and temporarily built, hidden deep inside the forest close to the Highway.