Thursday, 21 January 2010 12:41 Usa Pichai
Ranong, Thailand (Mizzima) - Even as migrant workers in Ranong province have begun to apply for driving licenses, Thai residents in Ranong pointed out that the difference between driving lanes in Thailand and Burma may cause confusion among migrants and increase the accident rate.
About 100 Burmese migrant workers in Ranong province in Southern Thailand, on the border with Kawthong in Burma have applied for driving licenses ever since the Department of Transport allowed migrants to access licenses late last year.
Myo Myint, a shop assistant in Ranong and a resident for about 10 years, told Mizzima that his employer was keen on him getting a driving license because he had to drive a truck and deliver products to customers.
“We have to sit for a test on driving and reading traffic signs like Thai people do. I won’t have problems because I have been living here for many years,” he said.
Recently, Wanchart Wongchaichana, Ranong’s Governor said that he had received some complaints through the provincial website and letters alleging that there are some officials in the Provincial Department of Transportation, who took bribes from employers to ease the process and grant driving license to their workers.
“We are carefully inspecting this because it will cause problems for other communicators. However, everyone who applies for the license has to pass the training and tests before they get the license to guarantee safe driving behaviour,” he said according to a report in a Thai newspaper Komchadluek.
Chutinan Srianan, an official of the Ranong Department of Transportation said that currently about 5 to 10 migrant workers come to apply for a license every day.
Nalinee Patthong, a Thai Ranong resident said that some people in Ranong are worried because the driving lane in Burma is on the right but in Thailand one drives on the left. This could cause confusion among migrants from Burma.
“However, we think if they pass the test it is better than driving without any document. At least, they will know about traffic signs and other important rules.” she said.
Earlier, migrants faced problems when the police launched raids on migrant camps, particularly in border provinces such as Ranong, in the south, Tak and Chiangmai Province in Northern Thailand.
The raids were to arrest illegal migrants and resulted in widespread confiscation of motorcycles on grounds of ‘suspected theft’. It was also because migrants did not have the right to either own or ride two wheelers. Labour rights activists started a campaign demanding migrant’s rights from 2007.
The Department of Transport (DoT) announced in November 2009 that migrants from Burma, Laos and Cambodia, as well as a number of other minority groups, can register for ownership of vehicles and would soon be able to apply for driving licenses. The decision overturns a 15-year old discriminatory National Security Council (NSC) policy denying these rights on vague national security grounds. A positive impact will be felt by well over one million registered migrants and other minority groups in the country.
Friday, January 22, 2010
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