Five hostels in Kaw Thaung Tenasserim Division where a majority of migrant workers stayed before they entered Thailand have been ordered to close down by an army commander.

Hin Thar Myaing, Tun Thaugh, Academy, Shwe Kaw Thaung, and Myat Mya have been closed a week after the Burmese military commander Col. Ne Lin made an inspection.

"He ordered the closure after he visited the hostel and checked when he received information that migrant workers stayed there," a source close to the hostel said.

"He also ordered change the 'Out Academy (in Burmese language)' hostel to a departmental room for hiring government employees," he added.

According to local residents, the Burmese authorities in the town are cracking down on it nationals who are trying to enter Thailand after 54 migrant workers were asphyxiated and died in a ten–wheel container truck.

Two days ago the authorities searched for about 100 of people who tried to seek jobs in Thailand and arrived in Kaw Thaung on August 19.

The people came in a special ship from Rangoon to Tavoy and Tavoy to Kaw Thaung. Following the closure of the hostels, travellers and people seeking jobs in Thailand are finding it difficult to find a place to stay.

The closure of hostels comes after Col. Ne Lin from Kalay town moved to Kaw Thaung. Before he arrived, there were no such restrictions.