In the Thai-Myanmar border town of Mae Sot, where the majority of Myanmarcitizens have moved since the coup, the Thai authorities have tightened security and are making arrests these days.
“I went to work this morning and there were still people being checked at the gates. The factory is in Mae Taung, so there are about two check gates because the factory is in that direction. We were also arrested, but we had full proof and so we were released. Some of them are still being taken away,” said a Myanmar citizen who lives in Mae Sot.
Last May 22nd and 23rd, Thai local police, Border Guard, Traffic Police, and officials from the Immigration and Manpower Ministries carried out gate checks on the streets, as well as making surprise checks at workplaces.
In addition, on May 23rd, 15 Myanmar workers who did not have legal residence permits were arrested by the Thai authorities when they suddenly checked the factory where they were working and taken to the relevant immigration office.
“The Thai police have become stricter about arrests in recent years. They used to be strict, but people who travel on bicycles are released. Now they search everything, whether it’s a bicycle or a person walking if they suspect something. In the Mae Sot market, there are usually police, but these days when you go to the market, you see more. The factories are checked at random when getting information. Some are released.
Some are not released. If they are not released, they are sent back to Myanmar,” said a Myanmar citizen who has been living in Mae Sot for about 10 years.
It has also been learned that the Thai authorities’ strict enforcement of investigations and arrests in Mae Sot is not only because of weapons but also because of complaints of bribery by the police in Mae Sot.
A Myanmar resident in Thailand expressed his opinion, “As far as we know, the Myanmar people have complained about the bribery of the police in Mae Sot to the Move Forward Party, which won the current election in Thailand.
That’s why the seniors above are investigating them (the police in Mae Sot) and there are strict rules, so they are more picking on Myanmar people in Mae Sot.
The weapon is the usual thing. It is perhaps the fact that they are checking and arresting them because of the weapon. The main reason is a complaint that they are taking bribes.”
Last May 14th, ammunition and weapons, including RPGs, were seized happening through an electric pan shock at a Marlwe housing near the Chinese cemetery in Maepa Ward, Maesot and Thai authorities are desperately searching for the makers of the weapons.