The Banteay Meanchey provincial hall said that nearly 50,000 Cambodian migrant workers who left to work in Thailand were sent home through the Poipet International Border Checkpoint last year, according to a National Police report. The report said the provincial hall held its 2016 annual meeting on Monday and found that in 2016, 49,987 Cambodians – including 16,261 women and 4,264 children – were brought back to Cambodia in 1,159 vans through the Poipet border gate because of their illegal status.
 

Provincial governor Suon Bava said there was nothing wrong with migrating to work in a foreign country as long as it was done through official channels. “Migration for work is a normal thing. It is part of the rights and freedom ensured by the government, but what is important is the legality of the migration,” he said.
 

“We can’t say if we will reduce the number of migrant workers because there are many benefits in migrating. They can learn skills and knowledge and also have more money to run a business to support their own family when they are back.” Mr. Bava added that officials were trying to reduce illegal migration through restrictions at all border gates in Banteay Meanchey province as instructed by Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/34707/nearly-50-000-sent--back-from-thailand/

 

 

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Strange ! ?  Not  one  peep  about the non asians who  have also been  "sent  back" .

Just how many people can fit in a 'Van'