While Thailand goes ahead with its National Verification (NV) programme with migrant workers from Burma, junta authorities in Shan State East have also recently issued directives to township councils to collect data on the number of people who have left their communities to work in Thailand, according to a source close to junta officials.

The source said the majority of those in each township working in Thailand are Shans.  “Pongpakhem (sub-township in Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai) is a good example,” he says.

According to him, there are 801 people from the sub-township working in Chiangmai:

Race           Male         Female        Total

* Shan                  309            317            616     (76.9%)

* Lahu                   47              33             80       (9.9%)

* Lisu                    17               30             47

* Palaung              12               11             23

* Kokang               7                7              14

* Burman              3                4               7

* Kachin                2                1               3

* Pa O                   1                -               1

“More are leaving after the weather destroyed their poppy fields,” he added.

His version was confirmed by a human rights worker on the border, who said most of the recent arrivals are those whose poppy crops had failed during the last season followed by those who are fleeing military recruitment launched by junta authorities as well as local armed groups.

There are 55 townships in Shan State and 10 in Shan State East alone.

No reason for the latest move has been disclosed. But the source believes it is an information gathering exercise by the junta authorities.