Migrants in Thailand wary of returning home

 

Garett Kostin, director of the centre, said this conclusion was based on a two-month survey of 100 migrants working or living in Thailand. The survey, conducted in March and April, sought to gauge opinions about opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and attitudes about the country’s future.

“Overall, there remains quite a bit of overwhelming scepticism and pessimism on the part of the migrants regarding Myanmar’s prognosis,” Kostin said.

“Although the majority of the population surveyed believe reforms will continue in Myanmar, it is worrying that they do not feel that reforms as yet have done much to improve the situations in their communities or the country as a whole,” he added. 

Those surveyed were asked what they thought about democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and whether or not they believed the situation of the country, including in their own regions, would improve if she were elected president in the 2015 elections.

The survey found though a slight majority of those surveyed (52.7 per cent) indicated that they believe Aung San Suu Kyi will be able to bring positive change to Myanmar as president, but overall enthusiasm for her was subdued, according an article on the Burma Study Centre News website.

 “Before, Shan people trusted her. But now she doesn’t do enough to help us,” one respondent said. “Maybe better than before, but I don’t trust her,” another said. “I think she is so-so,” said a third.

However, other migrants were more positive, stating: “ASSK would be better than the government now,” and “She is a woman who sacrifices for justice, so I think everything would be getting better.” 

One-quarter of those surveyed indicated they felt a Suu Kyi presidency would be harmful for the country: “There will be many conflicts if ASSK becomes president.” The remaining 22.3 per cent were unsure. 

A final qualitative question sought opinions about Muslims in Myanmar, and whether or not they should be protected from discrimination and violence following the anti-Rohingya and anti-Muslim campaigns that have spread throughout the country since 2012. 

More than half of the migrants surveyed (52.7 per cent) either chose not to answer the question, gave an ambiguous response, or indicated “no opinion”. Slightly more than one-quarter, 27.7 per cent, expressed positive opinions about Muslims and felt that this minority should be protected from harm, while the remaining 19.4 per cent expressed negative attitudes towards the religious minority.

“I think we should help them because they are people like us,” one respondent said. “We should protect them and let them participate in politics,” said another. “Now Muslims are suffering because of human rights abuses and no one is helping them. Yes, they need to be protected,” said a third. “Muslims in Myanmar need justice,” said another.

Negative responses included: “Muslims are not good because they insult other religions”, “I think they are unkind people” and “Muslim people are making conflict with other ethnic groups, and [it is] better if they go back to their country.” 

An example of an ambiguous response is: “If Muslims are not dangerous, people should help them to get equal [rights].”

Those surveyed were between 15 and 36, with the majority being full-time workers or part-time students at either the Migrant Learning Centre or Myanmar Study Centre. Several of the youngest individuals are full-time students who live with their parents and do not work. All were born in Myanmar.

Despite often being dismissively categorised as economic migrants by the Thai government, the majority said the primary reasons for their continued stay in Thailand were the political and social problems in Myanmar, not financial considerations or a desire to amass savings. The migrants surveyed largely self-report as desiring to return to their homes as soon as external conditions allow.

The Burma Study Centre called for further studies on these issues, with more diverse populations inside various areas of Myanmar in order to evaluate their perceptions about the country’s changes and likelihood for continued progress compared to those of migrants in Thailand. 

Researchers call for an expansion of their small-scale project. Nearly all respondents are somewhat unique, as they have made efforts to continue their education. In particular, “it would be useful to study whether access to educational opportunities makes a difference in opinions about the country and views regarding the Muslim population,” the researchers said.