The government’s plan to relocate all Rohingya migrants detained nationwide to temporary shelter homes in Ratchaburi and Tak provinces has upset villagers living in the areas.
Representatives from Ratchaburi and Tak province on Tuesday spoke out against the plan, saying that more problems would follow if it is implemented.
The proposal was mooted by Social Development and Human Security Minister Paveena Hongsakul, as she discussed how the state could aid the Rohingya migrants with army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Mrs Paveena said grouping the migrants would make it easier for the United Nations to take care of and supervise them.
But Somsak Luangjarungrat, chief of the Tambon Suan Phueng Administrative Organisation in Ratchaburi, disagreed with the plan, pointing out that the Ban Tham Hin camp already has already caused problems.
Locals are unhappy that the building was constructed upstream of a river that is used as their water source, Mr Somsak said, adding that they want the camp removed.
The townspeople do not welcome the migrants because they do not want any more problems, he said.
Sakol Kulpitak, village head of Ban Suan Phueng, also urged the government to reconsider.
He said he feared that the Rohingya people have a tendency to be violent, and that there could be conflicts with locals due to differing religious beliefs.
He added that bringing in the migrants may lead to national security issues because the Ban Tam Hin shelter home is located next to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Ban Tham Hin camp houses about 5,000 refugees, most of them Karen people and students from Myanmar who fled conflict in the neighbouring country.
Chairman of the Federation of Industry in Tak, Chaiwat Wititthamwong, said he disapproved of the government’s relocation plan.
He said shelter homes in the province currently housed Myanmar refugees according to arrangements made between the UN refugee agency and Tak. Putting these groups into the mix with the Rohingya people will pose many problems, he warned.
He said the migrants are not a new source of labour for the local workforce, since businesses in the area prefer Burmese workers. If the government decided to implement the plan then it will need to hold talk with several agencies including the private sector, he added.
Thailand is currently sheltering more than 1,700 Rohingya people who fled Myanmar by boat, mostly in the southern provinces.