The Myanmar migrant worker network Bright Future staged a protest on 1 May in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) against the sham election in Myanmar, which resulted in the election of junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as president.

Protesters flashing the three-finger salute, a symbol in Myanmar of anti-junta protests. (Photo by Peerapon Boonyakiat)

The group said in a statement that the election has been criticized for being undemocratic. People who criticize and call for a boycott of the election have been silenced by cyber security laws, and no ASEAN observers were present during voting. Meanwhile, air raids continued, leading more people to migrate to Thailand to find jobs.

However, even overseas, workers are exploited by the Myanmar government. The group said that Myanmar has been using the “green book” – the Certificate of Identity (CI) – required for every migrant worker from Myanmar to force them into paying taxes to the junta.

The group calls for every worker to join them in the boycott of the election and the Myanmar military government. Min Aung Hlaing is not a leader of the Myanmar people, they said, and he will not bring the country back to democracy.

They also call on the Thai government to revise its regulations so that only the work permit, known as the “pink card,” is required so that they would not have to pay the Myanmar government.

When asked about the criticism that not requiring a CI would result in an influx of migrants into the country or affect national security, Suraj said that migration has a mutual benefit for both sides. Thailand wants migrants to join the workforce, while the migrants need to make a living.

He said that migrants are not causing problems, and that they came to Thailand because there are many problems in their home country. Thailand and Myanmar cannot be separated, he said, and the migrants want to work in Thailand and help make it better.

He said that paying the Myanmar government for the CI is giving it money to buy weapons to use against its own citizens. The workers would be happy if the Thai government would no longer require the CI and instead require only the work permit so they can instead pay taxes to Thailand.

“We are happy to pay taxes to the Thai government,” he said, “but we will not pay Min Aung Hlaing.”

A small group of migrant workers joined the protest. Suraj said many were concerned that they would be targeted by the Thai authorities if they join protests, that they would have their work permit revoked and deported. For some, their employers prohibited them from joining such gatherings.

He also said that, when the group calls a protest, local police officers would try asking him when the protest would be or how many people would join. He is not concerned, however, because it was not inappropriate for officers to ask these questions. Nevertheless, some workers might be concerned about the potential consequences.

Ahead of the protest, a Prachatai reporter at the scene was asked by a police officer if the protest would conclude on time because a royal motorcade was scheduled to pass through the area in the afternoon.

Thanayut Na Ayutthaya performing during the protest (Photo by Peerapon Boonyakiat)

Rappers from the Rap Con network also performed at the protest. Thanayut Na Ayutthaya, known by his stage name Elevenfinger, said that he wanted to show solidarity with migrant workers.

Living in the Khlong Toei community, Thanayut has spent time among migrants who live in the community and work in the nearby market. He said that both migrants and Thai workers play a role in driving the economy, and Thai people should not think that jobs are being stolen or that their rights are violated. Political parties should also pay attention and ensure that migrants’ rights are protected.

Ploy, a Rap Con member

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ploy, who perform under the stage name POI, said she is excited to be performing for the workers – a different crowd than she is used to. Ploy said that the narrative she saw in the news is often anti-migrants and that she tends not to see reports on issues faced by migrant workers.

She said she personally disagree with excluding a group of people, and that the work migrants are doing are those rarely done by Thai workers. Without the migrants, there might not be workers, she said, and people who oppose migration should have a better reason than simply claiming that jobs are being stolen.

Ploy said that it could also be a political issue that Thais are unemployed or low-income. If politics is good, then everyone would be cared for and can make a living. She also said that migration is better for the country. If Thailand could help migrant workers be documented and pay taxes, it would be more beneficial.