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Published on February 18, 2008

Police officers at Koh Samui Immigration Bureau led by Lt-Colonel Jaruwat Busaba, together with about 30 officers from the Royal Thai Navy Second Fleet led by Lieutenant Sarin Bhonakngern, commanded boats to blockade Koh Tao in a bid to clear migrant workers from the island. The force arrested 140 migrant workers who had been working at construction sites, hotels and restaurants.

According to investigations, most workers came from Burma and did not have work permits. They told police they had been working on the island for a long time and were paid between Bt150 and Bt200 a day.

The workers were detained at Koh Pha-ngan Police Station for deportation, but villagers claimed about 10 workers were released after their employer paid about Bt80,000 to the police.

The Nation