Burma-Thailand Relations and Muslim Immigrants

According to the UN, Rohingya Muslims are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. Due to clashes/conflicts between militant Muslims and Buddhists and poor economic conditions within Burma, many have fled the country, especially Rohingya Muslims primarily situated/centred around the conflict zones. Neighboring Thailand acts as an idealized “sanctuary” for the displaced refugees, though in reality even further abuse and exploitation occurs over the border due to the incompatibility of these stateless individuals with strict immigration and border policies. These offer neither protection nor social services for economically and socially disadvantaged migrants (talk about NGOs?). As a result, underhanded human trafficking and smuggling across the Burma-Thailand border has steadily increased, with the violation of human rights becoming a source for concern. Officials within both Thailand and Burma/Myanmar have acted in direct violation to international law by aiding and abetting traffickers involved in Thailand’s illicit sex industry (profit) and treating Rohingya Muslims inhumanely (detainment). The economic interests of transnational middlemen drive practices of both consensual smuggling and non-consensual trafficking from Burma to Thailand, while migration law, government corruption and humanitarian failures (NGOs) exacerbate instead of solve the problem.

Burma-Thailand relations, primarily economic and trade related, provide the foundation for transnational middlemen to engage in the human trade, especially with their constant movement between the two nations. These middlemen are highly mobile, and transgress values of loyalty and nationality, leading to an accountability problem, as it is so hard to track them down. Th...

... middle of paper ...

...e under accusations of money laundering, taking bribes, and failing to carry out policies regarding refugees. Furthermore, families have been split up due to the separation of men from women and children into immigration facilities, to await repatriation or deportation, which is also the reason many migrants run away from said shelters and once again at risk of re-trafficking. These actions contribute to the endless cycle of exile and persecution.

However, there is a silver lining to this dark cloud, which lies in international cooperation, requiring a collected effort by the international community. In December 2013, a burgeoning agreement between the Burmese government and Walk Free, an Australian NGO, the Burmese government would target private sector trafficking by working with local businesses, which would require businesses to examine their own supply chains.