Ten dead Myanmar migrants found off Thai coast

Thai authorities recover the bodies of 10 dead migrant workers from Myanmar whose boat is believed to have sunk in a recent storm.

BANGKOK // Thai authorities said on Monday they had recovered the bodies of 10 dead migrant workers from Myanmar whose boat is believed to have sunk in a recent storm.

Myanmar officials have confirmed that the victims – nine men and one woman – were citizens of their country, according to the governor of the southern Thai province of Ranong, Cherdsak Jampathes.

“It is likely they were illegal immigrants who came for work. They normally travel together about 20-30 people in a small boat,” he said. “There was a storm and rain early this week.”

Thousands of economic migrants from Myanmar work in the Thai fishing and other industries, often illegally.

Last month the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warned of “serious abuses” in the kingdom’s vast fishing industry such as forced labour and violence.

Former military-ruled Myanmar has also seen an exodus of asylum-seekers in rickety boats following a wave of violence since last year, mostly targeting minority Muslims.

* Agence France-Presse