VZCZCXRO0902
PP RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0166/01 3100922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 060922Z NOV 09
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1286
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1195
INFO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000166 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
STATE FOR G/TIP, EAP/MLS, AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM ELAB SMIG KTIP BM TH
SUBJECT: BURMA: NATIONALITY VERIFICATION ON-GOING AT NORTHERN-MOST 
BORDER 
 
REF: A. REF A: BANGKOK 2821 (GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CRITICISM OF MIGRANT WORKER REGISTRATION PROGRAM, BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN) 
     ¶B. REF B: CHIANG MAI 152 
     ¶C. REF C: BANGKOK 1376 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000166  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified; please handle accordingly. 
------------------------------- 
Summary and Comment 
------------------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Thai Government and business contacts in Chiang Rai 
Province told us during an October 19-20 visit that  the 
nationality verification process for Burmese workers is 
proceeding smoothly at the Mae Sai-Tachilek center, although at 
a slow pace.  Problems they cited that are keeping the process 
from moving forward more efficiently include: workers' as yet 
unsubstantiated fears of retribution against their families in 
Burma as a result of their participation in the program; a lack 
of information about the registration process; complex 
documentary requirements; the Burmese Government's inability to 
process large numbers of applications simultaneously; and 
reluctance on the part of some employers to pay registration 
fees.  Nonetheless, all but one participant successfully 
completed the process, receiving a passport and visa in about 
one day. While our contacts acknowledged the existence of 
unconfirmed rumors of corruption, they reported no confirmed 
cases of irregularities, and emphasized that all registered 
workers are pleased with their new status. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Comment: Our contacts acknowledged unconfirmed rumors 
of corruption in the process, but emphasize that no workers 
registering in Tachilek have complained of irregularities.  The 
situation at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing registration 
point may be different, they opined.  We will visit Mae Sot, Tak 
Province in the near future, and will assess the implementation 
of the nationality verification program there.  End Summary and 
Comment. 
 
------------------------ 
What's Going Right 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) While the nationality verification program for Burmese 
is far from perfect, business and Thai Government contacts in 
Chiang Rai Province told us workers are generally pleased with 
the results, and that none of those who registered at the Chiang 
Rai-Tachilek border crossing point have reported fraud, 
corruption or other irregularities.  As of October 20, 498 
workers had attempted to complete the process, according to 
Ministry of Labor (MoL) officials based in Chiang Rai, with all 
but one having fully succeeded.  The worker who was unsuccessful 
ran into trouble because he lied about his age and turned out to 
be under the minimum working age.  The other 497 all have 
passports and visas already, according to the MoL, and are 
pleased with their new status. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Burmese officials in Tachilek are processing about 50 
applications per day, according to our contacts.  In most cases, 
workers leave Thailand in the morning and return the same day, 
they told us, acknowledging that some have to spend the night in 
Burma to complete the process.  One businessman reported that 
all workers who had successfully registered had used a broker. 
Another told us that workers residing in Chiang Rai could 
register without one, but that those coming from out of town 
need the services of an intermediary. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
System Works, but It's Not Perfect 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Despite the high percentage of successful registrants, 
both business leaders and Thai Government contacts freely 
acknowledged stumbling blocks with the process, including: 
 
-- fear on the part of workers that Burmese officials will use 
personal information obtained during the registration process to 
blackmail their families in Burma; 
 
-- the fact that some migrant workers of Burmese origin do not 
have any legal status in Burma; 
 
-- workers belonging to ethnic groups that actively resist the 
regime militarily fear the regime will use personal information 
to retaliate against their families due to their political views; 
 
-- some employers are reluctant to pay registration costs for 
their workers because once the workers complete the process, the 
employers believe they are free to accept jobs elsewhere in 
Thailand; 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000166  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
-- because processing is slow, the February 28, 2010 deadline 
appears impossible to meet. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) According to the businessmen, neither the Thai nor the 
Burmese officials manning the processing centers are trained and 
equipped to carry out their duties effectively.  Communication 
between officials on both sides is an obstacle, as is the 
burdensome amount of paperwork registrants have to fill out in 
Burma (some 10 pages of documentation, according to our 
contacts).  Furthermore, our interlocutors alleged that Burmese 
officials in Tachilek often do not have the authority to make 
final determinations on applications, and therefore have to seek 
the advice of their superiors in Nay Pyi Taw.  The lack of 
clarity about the process, particularly documentary 
requirements, has opened the way for intermediaries to play a 
role, according to business and government contacts.  Fees 
charged varied anywhere from $160 to $285 for full service, 
according to our contacts, which includes the Burmese passport, 
Thai visa, medical examination, and Thai work permit. 
 
¶7.  (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Bangkok. 
MORROW