Governor accused of race bias
Leading labour rights groups yesterday came down on the government for its policy of strictly controlling foreign workers after the Samut Sakhon governor sent a letter to all em-ployers in his province directing them to forbid migrants from holding cultural events.
Published on November 7, 2007
“The letter demonstrated the governor’s lack of cultural sensitivity, which when dealing with people from foreign countries,” said Sompong Sakaew, director of the Labour Rights Promotion Network.
Governor Verrayuth Yea-mampar- in his circular of October 26 to the Employment Office, employers and factory owners – said they should strictly manage and monitor their worker from
“These activities should not be supported because it will make the community feel that these people are the owners of the community, and that could create security problems. It is against the government’s purpose for them to be just temporary workers,” he said.
Sompoang criticized the governor for his “racial prejudice”.
“There’s nothing wrong with foreign workers, just the government’s policy trying to control them. We’re pressing down on them by not allowing them to demonstrate their identity out of fear that they might dilute our culture. What’s diluting and what’s to be diluted?” he said.
Sompong wants the government to reconsider the policy. He said the government should thin positively, in that allowing migrant worker to celebrate their culture would strengthen Thai culture due to the similarity and relationship of their traditions and beliefs in the region.
“There are many Thai Mon residents who observe their Mon culture in
Veerayuth was not immediately available for comment.
Manoon Punyakriyakorn, director – general of the Employment Department, distanced himself from the controversy, saying it was the mandate of the governor to regulate alien workers in his province.
Pennapa Hongthong
The Nation
Unacceptable from all point of views such as labour right, racial right and human right
The letter from governor of Smaut Sarkhon (Mahachai) is unacceptable from all point of views such as labour right, racial right and human right. It is also unfair for the people from every single point of view. Governor should have wide vision for the long term. His order make relationship between Thai and other ethinic groups from south east asia region split seriously Moreover, his order destroyed
united nation's Charter about
