Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand attacked amid border tensions

[ad_1] As border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia erupted to 5 days of combating earlier than a ceasefire was declared, reviews of Cambodian migrant staff being crushed by Thai gangs have been on the rise.

Thai authorities and police officers have each issued public statements condemning the assaults on Cambodian migrant staff.

RFA Khmer service’s Poly Sam speaks with Bangkok-based rights and labor activist Phil Robertson of Asia Human Rights Labour Advocates (AHRLA) about what’s being carried out.

Under is a transcript of the interview for RFA Views:

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="This image made from video shows a Cambodian migrant worker being beaten by a group of Thais." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/OT7B3UI6YFBCJDATUGS25ZG4LA.JPG?auth=4eb158f7977c253c18881ae177d2f29e363b16c3d99a43e0bcf45a43721d7b26&width=800&height=450" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/OT7B3UI6YFBCJDATUGS25ZG4LA.JPG?auth=4eb158f7977c253c18881ae177d2f29e363b16c3d99a43e0bcf45a43721d7b26&width=274&height=154 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/OT7B3UI6YFBCJDATUGS25ZG4LA.JPG?auth=4eb158f7977c253c18881ae177d2f29e363b16c3d99a43e0bcf45a43721d7b26&width=400&height=225 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/OT7B3UI6YFBCJDATUGS25ZG4LA.JPG?auth=4eb158f7977c253c18881ae177d2f29e363b16c3d99a43e0bcf45a43721d7b26&width=768&height=432 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/OT7B3UI6YFBCJDATUGS25ZG4LA.JPG?auth=4eb158f7977c253c18881ae177d2f29e363b16c3d99a43e0bcf45a43721d7b26&width=1024&height=576 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/OT7B3UI6YFBCJDATUGS25ZG4LA.JPG?auth=4eb158f7977c253c18881ae177d2f29e363b16c3d99a43e0bcf45a43721d7b26&width=1440&height=810 1440w" width="800" height="450"/> cambodia-migrant-workers-attacked-thailand This picture constituted of video exhibits a Cambodian migrant employee being crushed by a gaggle of Thais. (Citizen video) RFA:

Fairly a number of Cambodian migrant staff in Thailand have been discriminated towards because the battle broke out on July twenty fourth. A Cambodian NGO that works in Thailand documented round 16 circumstances that Thai youth gangs have been beating up Cambodian migrant staff.

And I’m questioning, in your opinion, why would a rustic like Thailand enable this type of violence to occur to migrant staff?

Phil Robertson:

Nicely, I'll say a few issues on this. First, the Thai authorities and the Thai police have truly issued statements saying that this could not occur. So we had the police on Friday, saying very clearly, no assaults ought to occur towards migrant staff and that anyone who did this could face the total drive of regulation.

We additionally noticed the deputy authorities spokesperson make the same assertion, once more, saying that the police have been going to patrol and making an attempt to guard migrants in areas the place there are a major variety of Cambodian migrants. However the large downside in Thailand is that there's a yawning hole between what officers say and what the regulation says and what truly occurs on the bottom.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="RFA Khmer service director Poly Sam, left, and human rights and labor activist Phil Robertson." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/QCSPICQPBRA57KO2OQCVNXOQFQ.JPG?auth=2c5b7b97a92766253200f6952e9f680600c1516113c9d6530459c9efc1a39096&width=800&height=450" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/QCSPICQPBRA57KO2OQCVNXOQFQ.JPG?auth=2c5b7b97a92766253200f6952e9f680600c1516113c9d6530459c9efc1a39096&width=274&height=154 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/QCSPICQPBRA57KO2OQCVNXOQFQ.JPG?auth=2c5b7b97a92766253200f6952e9f680600c1516113c9d6530459c9efc1a39096&width=400&height=225 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/QCSPICQPBRA57KO2OQCVNXOQFQ.JPG?auth=2c5b7b97a92766253200f6952e9f680600c1516113c9d6530459c9efc1a39096&width=768&height=432 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/QCSPICQPBRA57KO2OQCVNXOQFQ.JPG?auth=2c5b7b97a92766253200f6952e9f680600c1516113c9d6530459c9efc1a39096&width=1024&height=576 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/QCSPICQPBRA57KO2OQCVNXOQFQ.JPG?auth=2c5b7b97a92766253200f6952e9f680600c1516113c9d6530459c9efc1a39096&width=1440&height=810 1440w" width="800" height="450"/> cambodia-migrant-workers-attacked-thailand RFA Khmer service director Poly Sam, left, and human rights and labor activist Phil Robertson. (RFA) And as you stated, there have been these youth assaults. I’ve seen a number of the movies that have been fairly horrific, with gangs of Thai youths attacking Cambodian migrant staff who had nothing to do with what's going on between the 2 nations. I imply, these migrant staff are merely right here making an attempt to make a residing, and ship a refund to their households.

And people assaults have induced a substantial amount of concern within the Cambodian migrant neighborhood. There are a selection of people that have voluntarily left, who've headed to the border, to attempt to return as a result of they have been so afraid. And that’s actually unlucky as a result of Thailand wants migrant staff. They want these staff working agricultural building, notably, you realize, right here in Bangkok, a lot of the development is being carried out by Cambodian staff.

So, I’ve seen a pair totally different worksites, together with one which I used to be, close by at a restaurant simply the opposite day and I used to be speaking to the waiters and saying what’s occurring with the worksite over there? They usually stated, oh nicely, it was all Cambodian building staff they usually all ran away.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="This image made from video shows a Cambodian migrant worker laying on the ground after an attack by a group of Thais." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/G3HWEDZ66NDELLFBD7UNPUPLLQ.JPG?auth=59634365886c2fd47e4be0cb895b2bde04d99b08ba41024c7f172a01e2d1d8a8&width=800&height=450" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/G3HWEDZ66NDELLFBD7UNPUPLLQ.JPG?auth=59634365886c2fd47e4be0cb895b2bde04d99b08ba41024c7f172a01e2d1d8a8&width=274&height=154 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/G3HWEDZ66NDELLFBD7UNPUPLLQ.JPG?auth=59634365886c2fd47e4be0cb895b2bde04d99b08ba41024c7f172a01e2d1d8a8&width=400&height=225 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/G3HWEDZ66NDELLFBD7UNPUPLLQ.JPG?auth=59634365886c2fd47e4be0cb895b2bde04d99b08ba41024c7f172a01e2d1d8a8&width=768&height=432 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/G3HWEDZ66NDELLFBD7UNPUPLLQ.JPG?auth=59634365886c2fd47e4be0cb895b2bde04d99b08ba41024c7f172a01e2d1d8a8&width=1024&height=576 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/G3HWEDZ66NDELLFBD7UNPUPLLQ.JPG?auth=59634365886c2fd47e4be0cb895b2bde04d99b08ba41024c7f172a01e2d1d8a8&width=1440&height=810 1440w" width="800" height="450"/> cambodia-migrant-workers-attacked-thailand This picture constituted of video exhibits a Cambodian migrant employee laying on the bottom after an assault by a gaggle of Thais. (Citizen video) So fairly clearly, the concern may be very vital. And, I don’t see that anyone has been prosecuted but, for these assaults. And what that exhibits once more, is that the Thai police are a little bit of a paper tiger right here and there stays a level of impunity to abuse migrant staff. And this has been an ongoing downside in Thailand for a few years.

This can be a larger downside of which this newest incident is simply half, which is that migrant staff actually are handled very poorly in Thailand that they don’t get their rights below regulation. And I’m not simply speaking about Cambodians — I’m speaking about Burmese. I’m speaking about Lao, I’m speaking about Vietnamese. I’m speaking about all kinds of various folks, from totally different nations within the area who come to Thailand.

They count on that they’re going to be handled accordance with regulation. They’re going to get the minimal wage.They’re going to get the the essential rights and advantages below the labor regulation in Thailand. And it merely doesn’t occur. They’re not being thought of as equal to Thais, despite the fact that the regulation says they have to be.

RFA:

Besides the truth that’s in — I believe most Cambodians are being on the brunt of the injustice that’s what’s occurring in Thailand proper now, as a result of the 2 nations are virtually at battle at the moment. And similar to you stated so far there isn't any arrest of the perpetrator. And a few of them, we will see their faces.

I believe if Thai authorities have the intention to arrest these folks, I believe they in all probability might simply do it. However such as you stated they're paper tigers at this cut-off date. Have you learnt why that's? Since it will painting a really detrimental picture for the Thai authorities and Thais as a rustic?

Phil Robertson:

I’m assuming that the orders that got to crack down on anyone who assaults migrants merely doesn’t filter right down to the decrease ranges of the police drive and the native officers.

You realize that there’s not sufficient energy and dedication behind the order to make it stick. And sadly, the migrant staff might not know the place to go for assist. And actually, what they should do is that they have to be contacting teams, NGOs and others, a lot of those that are, in a coalition known as the Migration Working Group. That group is one which has NGOs that do advocacy and take up circumstances and attempt to strain the Thai authorities to do the fitting factor and what we discover is each time migrants truly obtain some extent of justice in Thailand, invariably there’s an NGO or a Thai labor union that's serving to them.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Cambodian migrant workers cross the border at Ban Laem Border checkpoint to return to Cambodia from Thailand, July 28, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/IBBFIYZ4KJEX5F3FKIVB6N6FAA.JPG?auth=4f5bb1852937acd537b16dee9742862c431b560414dabfbb7406de22ae0cbf54&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/IBBFIYZ4KJEX5F3FKIVB6N6FAA.JPG?auth=4f5bb1852937acd537b16dee9742862c431b560414dabfbb7406de22ae0cbf54&width=274&height=182 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/IBBFIYZ4KJEX5F3FKIVB6N6FAA.JPG?auth=4f5bb1852937acd537b16dee9742862c431b560414dabfbb7406de22ae0cbf54&width=400&height=266 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/IBBFIYZ4KJEX5F3FKIVB6N6FAA.JPG?auth=4f5bb1852937acd537b16dee9742862c431b560414dabfbb7406de22ae0cbf54&width=768&height=511 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/IBBFIYZ4KJEX5F3FKIVB6N6FAA.JPG?auth=4f5bb1852937acd537b16dee9742862c431b560414dabfbb7406de22ae0cbf54&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/IBBFIYZ4KJEX5F3FKIVB6N6FAA.JPG?auth=4f5bb1852937acd537b16dee9742862c431b560414dabfbb7406de22ae0cbf54&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> cambodia-migrant-workers-thailand-border-fight Cambodian migrant staff cross the border at Ban Laem Border checkpoint to return to Cambodia from Thailand, July 28, 2025. (Andre Malerba/Reuters) On their very own, the migrant staff don’t have sufficient energy or data on methods to work the Thai system and to truly obtain some extent of recognition for his or her rights. And so, this can be a large downside.

As I stated, there’s a giant hole between what the regulation and coverage says and what the precise implementation is on the bottom. And I’m assuming that these police both don’t wish to tackle the Thai youth as a result of they’re frightened that they may get in hassle.

Somebody would single them out as going after youth who have been expressing what some in the fitting wing and the conservative parts of Thai society would see as justified assaults and that they might fear that they might have points and issues they usually assume that these assaults would quickly be forgotten.

And issues will return to the best way they have been earlier than. So that is, actually an unsatisfactory and unacceptable state of affairs that after once more each time one thing goes unsuitable between Thailand and Cambodia, invariably it's the Cambodian staff in Thailand that face the brunt of the abuse by unthinking Thai nationalists who don’t acknowledge that these migrant staff are bizarre folks simply making an attempt to make a residing.

RFA:

You simply answered my query, truly, along with what you say is that the Cambodian migrant staff merely are actually scared of their security at this cut-off date.

And plenty of of them went into hiding that means that they’re not leaving their condominium, their dwelling or the place that they’re staying. So, a few of them truly say that they’re actually, actually afraid to exit to purchase meals or requirements.

I’m simply questioning, since you might be primarily based in Thailand and also you perceive Thai tradition and stuff like that, it’s there any chance that common Thai residents might help alleviate the ache and struggling of those folks?

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Cambodian migrant workers carry their belongings as they returned from Thailand through the Doung International Gate in Battambang province on July 28, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7634JB6KQBCJZLJ3VHGNIP7CME.JPG?auth=195d7b9e97e303f9813170e5167eeafc060158692a998212e2643fb1b159eb7b&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7634JB6KQBCJZLJ3VHGNIP7CME.JPG?auth=195d7b9e97e303f9813170e5167eeafc060158692a998212e2643fb1b159eb7b&width=274&height=182 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7634JB6KQBCJZLJ3VHGNIP7CME.JPG?auth=195d7b9e97e303f9813170e5167eeafc060158692a998212e2643fb1b159eb7b&width=400&height=266 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7634JB6KQBCJZLJ3VHGNIP7CME.JPG?auth=195d7b9e97e303f9813170e5167eeafc060158692a998212e2643fb1b159eb7b&width=768&height=511 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7634JB6KQBCJZLJ3VHGNIP7CME.JPG?auth=195d7b9e97e303f9813170e5167eeafc060158692a998212e2643fb1b159eb7b&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7634JB6KQBCJZLJ3VHGNIP7CME.JPG?auth=195d7b9e97e303f9813170e5167eeafc060158692a998212e2643fb1b159eb7b&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> cambodia-migrant-workers-thailand-fighting Cambodian migrant staff carry their belongings as they returned from Thailand by the Doung Worldwide Gate in Battambang province on July 28, 2025. (Chor Sokunthea/AFP) Phil Robertson:

Nicely, I believe many — Look, I imply, I believe that there are a lot of Thai residents who would take a look at this example and say, yeah, there’s no cause to assault these migrant staff. These migrant staff are simply bizarre folks and I believe that almost all Thai folks, most Thai residents are fairly thoughtful and fairly humanitarian of their outlook.

I’ve had many circumstances of migrant staff the place any individual confronted a troublesome time and there was an excellent Samaritan there was somebody from the Thai neighborhood who was ready to assist. However what we've can also be a few of these ultranationalist, proper wing youth or gangs, who suppose it’s simple and enjoyable to exit and assault a migrant employee.

They usually have to be dropped at e book. They have to be held accountable below the regulation. And admittedly, the Thai police are simply not doing their job.That’s the basic downside. Once more, it involves the Thai police, their failures, to successfully defend folks in Thailand, whether or not they be Thai or different nationalities.

RFA:

So, who's in charge on this state of affairs? You stated the Thai police will not be doing their job. Ought to the worldwide neighborhood or the Cambodians blame the Thai police?

Phil Robertson:

I believe the Thai police are on the core of the issue. It’s their failures to implement the regulation. As I stated, there was a really clear assertion on Friday, by senior Thai police officers saying assaults towards migrants wouldn't be tolerated. And the deputy authorities spokesperson stated the identical factor.

RFA:

Do you suppose they actually imply that?

Phil Robertson:

Completely. The coverage makers are saying the fitting factor. They’re saying, “We don’t wish to assault civilians. We don’t see attacking civilians who don't have anything to do with this as a method ahead. And this discredits Thailand,” as you’ve talked about. It makes Thailand look dangerous.

So I believe folks acknowledge that what has occurred, these assaults are damaging to Thai credibility. And it’s damaging to the Thai picture. However the issue is that the popularity, the coverage recognition and the bulletins merely don’t make it right down to the extent the place the police implement the regulation.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Cambodian migrant workers carry their belongings as they returned from Thailand through the Doung International Gate in Battambang province on July 28, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/C5Z2LF3UJFDCDNYMJNYQD55XYE.JPG?auth=0fee28f8ba844a119d90f4df30a7398331ee80a009a2ba68820d42ecfa6a5ead&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/C5Z2LF3UJFDCDNYMJNYQD55XYE.JPG?auth=0fee28f8ba844a119d90f4df30a7398331ee80a009a2ba68820d42ecfa6a5ead&width=274&height=182 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/C5Z2LF3UJFDCDNYMJNYQD55XYE.JPG?auth=0fee28f8ba844a119d90f4df30a7398331ee80a009a2ba68820d42ecfa6a5ead&width=400&height=266 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/C5Z2LF3UJFDCDNYMJNYQD55XYE.JPG?auth=0fee28f8ba844a119d90f4df30a7398331ee80a009a2ba68820d42ecfa6a5ead&width=768&height=511 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/C5Z2LF3UJFDCDNYMJNYQD55XYE.JPG?auth=0fee28f8ba844a119d90f4df30a7398331ee80a009a2ba68820d42ecfa6a5ead&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/C5Z2LF3UJFDCDNYMJNYQD55XYE.JPG?auth=0fee28f8ba844a119d90f4df30a7398331ee80a009a2ba68820d42ecfa6a5ead&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> cambodia-migrant-workers-thailand-fighting Cambodian migrant staff carry their belongings as they returned from Thailand by the Doung Worldwide Gate in Battambang province on July 28, 2025. (Chor Sokunthea/AFP) And so, we don’t have police investigating. We don’t have police essentially CCTV to determine by facial recognition who these folks have been who're the attackers?

As you stated, there are a selection of circumstances the place the faces of the attackers are very clear. These folks might be recognized they usually haven’t been, and that’s an issue. That’s a failure of native police to hold out orders which have been issued from above.

RFA:

Because the Thai authorities particularly, Thai police can not fulfill their function and duty to guard migrant staff from Cambodia, what do you suppose the Cambodian authorities ought to do to assist their very own folks?

Phil Robertson:

Nicely, I’m unsure the Cambodian authorities can do something to assist their very own folks. I imply, the issue is that the Cambodian authorities’s migration administration processes are corrupt.They're failing.

They supply no safety to Cambodian migrant staff. Even when it was open and working, the Cambodian embassy in Thailand was nugatory when it got here to defending Cambodian staff.

So, for the Cambodian authorities, the declare that now they’re kind of very involved concerning the standing and the well being of migrant staff in Cambodia after they’ve carried out so little to assist Cambodian migrant staff who’ve come right here beforehand. I believe it’s, you realize, it’s a bit ridiculous.

The Cambodian authorities doesn’t have an actual leg to face on relating to speaking about defending migrant staff abroad, as a result of they don’t. They merely fail. Whether or not or not it's in Thailand or Malaysia, Indonesia or the Center East. The Cambodian migrant staff who're abroad are on their very own.

RFA:

Nicely, the state of affairs is a bit totally different. One is that they’re neglecting the folks. One other one is that persons are going through extreme discrimination and maybe loss of life. You realize, if somebody allowed this to occur.

Phil Robertson:

Sadly, what I'd say about that is I'd say that if the Cambodian authorities begins to return in and say that they're right here to guard the Cambodian migrant staff, all people would perceive that that was a political ploy by the Cambodian authorities.

If the Cambodian authorities was critical about doing one thing, they might be working with U.N. companies just like the IOM, to offer efficient safety and help for migrant staff residing abroad, whether or not they be in Thailand or some place else.

However, sending migrants abroad is large cash. The brokerage charges are some huge cash. And this has been taken over by Oknha and different corrupt folks in Cambodia,who do offers with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Labor appears to be like the opposite method. So, Cambodia doesn't have an excellent report relating to defending its migrant staff abroad.

Definitely, if it needs to talk up and say one thing about what has occurred to the migrant staff in Thailand, I believe that that will be useful. However, it could additionally simply, get extra consideration on the migrant staff as nicely. I imply, I believe what we have to do is have a method of getting NGOs to strain Thai police to do their job.

RFA:

Relating to the NGOs — your group — is there any particular activity or duty that you simply guys are doing to assist migrant staff at this explicit time?

Phil Robertson:

Nicely, we’re making an attempt to coordinate responses amongst Thai NGOs to exit and examine and take a look at these circumstances and check out to determine how we will get a more practical policing response to go after the individuals who have been committing the crimes and attempt to discover methods to assist the migrant staff themselves.

We’re very small. So we work in coalition with different teams and that’s the perfect we will do, to be sincere. However we have to communicate out about these points as nicely. Finally, it could be good to have extra worldwide media consideration on what has occurred to migrant staff from Cambodia in Thailand.

However I believe it’s laborious. It’s laborious as a result of all people is targeted on the massive points on the border and the cross-border shelling and what's occurring in locations like Minburi, or different elements of the Bangkok suburbs the place these assaults have been happening is kind of out of sight, out of thoughts for most of the worldwide media.