January 9: While Burma’s reported death toll from the Asian tsunami might be less than 100, it may have lost many more people off the beaches of Thailand who have not been identified by relatives for fear of being deported, said the Law Society of Thailand.

“There are 60,000 registered Burmese workers plying their trade in the six southern provinces hit by the destructive tidal wave,” said Surapong Kongchantuk, vice-chairman of the society’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Ethnic Minorities, Stateless People, Migrant Workers and Displaced Persons.

“Many have died in the natural disaster, but are still left lying in Yanyao temple, a makeshift morgue, waiting for a relative or a friend to take them home,” he said.

But that will not happen anytime soon because most of those still alive are on the run from the authorities and have taken refuge in the mountains behind the once picturesque Khao Lak beach, Phangnga, said Mr Surapong.

Khao Lak beach, in Takua Pa district, was a thriving, new holiday town before the tsunami devastation and is believed to have had many Burmese migrant workers in the hotels and restaurants.

With migrants on the run, said Mr Surapong, it is more difficult for Thais to identify their loved ones because both peoples look similar.

So far, 1,500 workers have been sent back to Burma. On Friday, another 500 were moved from Phangnga to Ranong, ready to be shipped off. The police say the workers are the cause of thefts and break-ins at tsunami-damaged hotels.

Immigration police commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Ammarin Niamsakul, however, said registered workers whose employers were killed in the catastrophe would be helped.

“It is hard to tell who is legal or illegal as these people have lost their belongings in the traumatic incident or their work permits were taken to the grave with their employers,” he said.

Mr Surapong said the crimes are mostly committed by Thais. Out of 27 recent arrests for theft and break and entry, 20 were reportedly Thai nationals.

The government, said Mr Surapong, has a legal duty to provide care, comfort and medical assistance to everyone, and not pick and choose for marketing purposes or to cut costs.

“Saving the life of a Burmese will not bring in more tourists or earn worldwide admiration. You only get a sense of pride and pleasure,” he said.

By sending these people back, said Mr Surapong, employers will not have to pay them compensation or take care of other social issues involving legal migrants.

By applying this policy, the state is actually forcing migrant workers to become criminals as another means of survival.