BURMESE LABOURERS

Migrant workers go into hiding

SUPAPONG CHAOLAN

SURAT THANI : Around a thousand Burmese labourers in the southern province of Surat Thani have gone into hiding in the mountains over the past week, following rumours that Burmese soldiers had been sent to take them home to participate in a referendum on a new constitution on May 10.

Oil palm and rubber plantations in Khiri Ratthanikhom, Tha Chang, Chaiya and Phunphin districts and Wipawadi sub-district have been left without workers during the peak harvest season.

A rubber farm operator who did not want to be named said even registered Burmese workers packed their bags and fled after they received telephone calls from their fellow workers.

Continued here at the Bangkok Post

Oh my God, I am going to Bee Quick and buy all the tires I can before the shortage hits!

Well they haven't told the Burmese in Ranong, and we border Myanmar/Burma