A Hmong hilltribe refugee boy stands in Ban Huay Nam Khao camp in Phetchabun province about 258 miles northeast of Bangkok on July 30, 2009. A total of 4,645 Hmong refugees who had fled Laos, settled in this village five years ago. The Thai authorities consider these people illegal immigrants and intend to return them to Laos. (Sukree Sukplang/Reuters)

Why this face frightens the average Thai

Thais have a fear of illegal immigrants that parallels that of Americans. The UN wants to change that.

By Patrick Winn - GlobalPost
Published: October 10, 2009 09:05 ET

BANGKOK, Thailand – Picture a class of migrants, hungry for work, pouring across a rugged land border by the millions.

Many natives on the other side regard the migrants as job-stealing invaders. Yet, if they were all deported, the economy would collapse.

This is a familiar script in the U.S., where Mexicans and other Hispanics play the role of the border crossers. Recast them as Burmese, Laotian or Cambodian, and you’ve got Thailand, where the society’s regard for illegal immigrants often parallels America’s.

Encircled by impoverished countries, perpetually in need of dirt-cheap labor, the kingdom has attracted more than roughly 3 million illegal migrants, according to the Thai government. Like America, conventional wisdom holds that illegal foreign workers — namely Burmese — seek work too gritty or exhausting for most Thais.

Now, as part of a global push to relax the world’s immigration laws, the United Nations Development Program is prodding Thailand to help lead the way. At the Bangkok launch of U.N. report on global migration, the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed this week that change was due.

“We realize that the most effective way to protect these migrants is to legalize their status and bring them into the formal labor market,” Abhisit said. Migration, he said, is simply an “expression of the freedom and desire of each individual to seek better opportunities in life.”

Most Thais, however, are unlikely to embrace the premier’s rhetoric. Poor migrants here are often seen as a threat.

In a poll on immigration policy, more than 72 percent of Thais called for the government to “limit/prohibit” immigration, according to the U.N. report. (Nearly 60 percent of Americans polled made the same choice.)

Unfettered by American-style political correctness, Thai entertainment openly portrays migrants as criminals or fools. Sitcom characters in native Burmese or Khmer dress often play the buffoon. “Khmen” — the Thai word for Cambodian — is a byword for uncivilized.

Most Thai news reports on Cambodians or Burmese recount drug stings, violent crimes or round-ups of illegal migrants. And during disputes with neighboring countries, nationalistic Thai message boards light up with taunts — often noting that after years of back-and-forth kingdom sacking between Burmese, Thais and Cambodians, the Thais ended up much more prosperous.

Fears that illegal migrants may steal jobs or deflate the value of Thai labor are also common. Thai cities attracting high concentrations of migrants have seen local wages decrease — but very slightly. A 10 percent increase in migrants, according to the report, typically causes a 0.2 percent local wage decrease and does not force higher unemployment rates.

“Fears about migrants taking jobs are generally exaggerated,” said Helen Clark, the U.N. Development Program’s administrator. “The debate becomes more shrill in times of economic crisis.”

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Posted by david wayne osedach on October 10, 2009 16:45 ET

In Thailand it is forbidden for Farangs to own homes or land. Even if your wife or husband is Thai - you still cannot own property.

Posted by Patrick Winn on October 16, 2009 23:16 ET

Thanks for responding, David. Yes, Thailand's property and business ownership laws are a great source of frustration for foreigners living here. Recent headlines here suggested that the government would revoke titles of houses bought by foreign husbands using their wives as a proxy -- and though I don't think that ever happened, it sparked a lot of panic.

Posted by michron on October 10, 2009 17:44 ET

"Thais have a fear of illegal immigrants that parallels that of America"

That may be the most naive sub-headline I've ever read. Something tells me you get your American research through left wing headlines and regurgitated international press.

I've lived in every area of the U.S. and traveled to all US States but Alaska. Anyone who wants to get to the US and commits to finding the means will arrive here, and find work - even if it is illegal.

There is a process for immigration, as with most countries, the US has more illegal immigration than any other country in the world. We don't have a fear of it, we just have so much of it that it is something we all see, everyday.

It sounds like your headline supports a convenient, un-researched opinion of Americans.

But, I guess it makes it easier for you to get through the day to perpetuate those types of stereotypes.

A few extreme people does not accurately reflect the overall attitude of 300MM Americans - all of them Immigrants from somewhere.

Posted by Patrick Winn on October 16, 2009 23:08 ET

Thanks for responding, Michron.

I'm from North Carolina, a state that has experienced a rapid influx of Hispanic migrants, many who entered illegally. I don't need "international headlines" to see how it's affected America.

I would never say that all Americans, or all Thais, have a fear of illegal immigrants.

But in both societies, a fear of immigrants sapping resources, taking jobs, diluting the culture, etc. is not just shared by a few "extreme people." Some of these concerns may be justified and all of them are a worthy subject of debate.

Consider CNN's Lou Dobbs, who in recent years has devoted much of his primetime show to the issue. Or better yet, the April ABC/Washington Post poll that stated 74 percent of Americans think the government is not doing enough to keep immigrants out.

Scanning through that poll and others, however, we can see that Americans' "overall attitude" is that they're accepting of immigration -- but disapproving of illegal immigration.

Posted by DLe on October 10, 2009 22:31 ET

It would have been great if there was a story behind the face.

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