Due to ongoing military tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, Thai nationalist groups conducting searches for Cambodian workers in Bangkok have mistakenly targeted Myanmar workers, leading to incidents of harassment and violence. On July 24th evening, Thai nationalist groups conducted mass raids in the Samut Prakan district of Bangkok, where many Cambodian Khmer migrant workers reside. During these operations, while searching for and expelling Cambodian workers, several Myanmar workers were mistakenly identified as Cambodians and subjected to searches and physical assault, according to Myanmar workers in Thailand.
In the Samut Prakan area, particularly around Sam Lung Market and residential complexes, groups known as the ‘Mustache Group’ Thai nationalists entered apartment buildings to check workers’ passports and ordered them to come down to the streets. They also stopped motorcyclists for inspection, during which some Myanmar workers were mistaken for Cambodians and subjected to aggressive questioning and searches. A local Myanmar worker reported that these groups only released the workers after confirming they were Myanmar nationals, not Cambodians. The situation has been described as severe by those affected by these operations.
Additionally, a video has been circulating on social media showing two Myanmar workers being attacked at a market in Bangkok after being mistaken for Cambodians. The authenticity of this video has been confirmed, and while the two Myanmar workers who were assaulted did suffer injuries, they were not severely harmed. A Myanmar worker in Bangkok has verified the incident and confirmed contact with the victims, stating that while the incident did occur, the injuries sustained were not life-threatening.
The military tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have now entered their second day and continue to escalate. Due to this situation, Myanmar nationals in both Thailand and Cambodia have been advised to exercise extreme caution in their daily activities. The National Unity Government and Myanmar labor rights activists in Thailand have urged Myanmar nationals to be particularly careful and have advised against sharing content on social media that could potentially escalate the conflict between the two countries. They emphasize the importance of maintaining safety and avoiding any actions that could further complicate the already tense situation.
