For Immediate Release 18th Jan.

2010: 36 Rights Groups Submit to Thai Prime Minister Open Letter of

Concern for the Safety of Migrants in Thailand

> ***Dear Editors/All Media Outlets/Colleagues:***

On 21st Dec. 2009 Thailand's Alien Workers Management Committee (AWMC) issued a policy to extend the time
period for another two years for completion of nationality verification (NV) for the approximately 1.4 million migrant
workers from Burma, Cambodian and Laos currently working and living in Thailand. This extension was necessary as
the previous deadline for completion of NV was set as 28th Feb. 2010 but in particular only around 10, 000 migrants
from Burma have so far completed the process. The AWMC also issued a policy to extend the stay permission and
work permits of migrant workers (importantly, only those workers who agree to enter the NV process) for up to two
years to allow them to complete this NV process. However the AWMC's decision has yet to be approved by Thailand's
Cabinet.

On 20th Jan. 2010 stay permission and work permits for a group of over 60, 000 migrants will expire, of which almost
all are from Burma. However, Thailand's Cabinet has yet to issue a resolution allowing them to extend their stay
permission and work permits in addition to not issuing a resolution in support of the 21st Dec 2009 AWMC decision.
As a result, organisations working with migrant workers in Thailand and from across the world are now deeply
concerned given Thai government officials have stated many times now that if migrant workers have not or are not
willing to complete the NV process by the time their existing work permits expire, they shall be deported back to their
home countries
Given most migrants workers do not yet understand the NV process or have not completed the NV process, and there
are major concerns particularly for the safety of Burmese migrants in going through the NV process, the attached
"Open letter of concern for the safety and security of migrant workers in Thailand" will be submitted to the Thai Prime
Minister at 9am today (Monday 18th Jan. 2010). The 36 organisational signatories to this letter are as listed at the
bottom of the attached letter.

For more information on this letter, or this morning’s submission, please contact:
Somchai Homlaor (Secretary General, the Human Rights and Development Foundation [HRDF]): +66 818 995476 (Thai/
English)
Andy Hall (Director, HRDF’s Migrant Justice Programme [MJP]): +66 846 119209 (English/Thai)
Hsein Htay (MJP): +66 830 139736 (Burmese)
Sam Mon (MJP) : +66 850 359051 (Shan)

For Legal/Academic Commentary, please contact Associate Professor Panthip Kanchanachitra Saisoonthorn (Faculty
of Law, Thammasat University): +66 813 492109 (Thai only)