1 - Understanding Borders Perceptions and Human Security in Human Migration

1While there are many prior studies to date on the internal conflicts in Burma, these are mostly focused on the human rights situation within the country. In addition, many previous marked studies, such as works from Thai academics, International Organizations or the World Health Organization1, have highlighted the human securities of migrant workers in the destination country whereby the process of migration has already taken place. However, none of them have focused on the phenomenon of migration in relation to perceptions of borders and human security. The lack of study addressing the influence of borders and human securities as the key indicators to people’s migration behaviour supports the significance and relevance of this research.

2 - Research Framework

2This research aims to understand the differences in the perceptions of borders between the Thai government, Shan migrant workers, Thai employers, and informal brokers, which perpetuate the flow of illegal migration.

3Due to the increasing number of illegal Shan migrant workers who are living, producing and consuming products and services in Thailand, or in other words, being absorbed into and continuing to contribute to the Thai economy, it is necessary to map out a framework of borders, human migration and human security for policy-makers to approach and use in addressing the migration issue as a basis for future theoretical development. A focus on the different perceptions of borders in the migration phenomenon may lead toward a more comprehensive view of the international migration process, particularly for ASEAN to have more realistic border and migration policies.

4Based on the purpose of the research mentioned above, my hypothesis is as follows:

5“The flow of illegal migrant workers is continuing and increasing due to the differences in the perceptions and functions of borders between the Thai government, Shan migrant workers, Thai employers and informal brokers”.

6The actual primary data is derived from fieldwork conducted both in Thailand and Burma. In addition, secondary data collected from available literature was processed and reviewed in order to support the borders approach in addressing human security and migration. Finally, a comparative case study of Cambodian migrant workers is examined based on fieldwork made in the Rayong province of Thailand.

3 - Organization of the Paper

7In Chapter One, we would first like to discuss how and in which historical context the borders between Burma and Thailand were drawn, and how they consequently influenced the imagination of borders in the minds of Shan migrant workers. Furthermore, it is important to discuss in this Chapter how the perceptions of borders and human security affect not only Shan migrant workers’ behaviour in migrating to Thailand, but also the migration legal framework in the country.

8The core analysis of this study is in Chapter Two, which consists of the analysis of the different perceptions of borders and the cost-benefit assessment between the Thai government, Shan migrant workers, Thai employers and informal brokers. This part intensely discusses the different perceptions of borders among each of the above-mentioned actors, and how these have affected governmental immigration policies, Shan migrant workers’ migration behaviour and Thai employers’ patterns of employment.

9This Chapter discusses and analyses three main topics. Firstly, by attempting to determine the push-pull factors that influence Shan people to migrate, it examines what types of insecurities migrant workers expect to resolve through migration. Secondly, we will continue to deliberate on defining the respective perceptions of borders of each actor involved in the migration phenomenon of Shan workers. Finally, it discusses what the costs and benefits are for 1) the Thai government and Thai employers when it comes to the border crossing of Shan migrant workers and 2) the Shan migrant workers in measuring their well-being and weighing the advantages between living in Thailand and Burma.

10Finally, conclusions are made based on the results of the analysis, and recommendations as to the governmental policies regarding migration are also proposed. The section concerning recommendations tries to point out the importance of including different perceptions of borders in policy formulation and the need to accelerate the legal process and create coherence in immigration and registration policies.