January 21, 2008
BANGKOK - Police said seven bodies have been found floating in a reservoir in western Thailand, adding that they were apparently Myanmar migrants who drowned while trying to slip into the country.
The corpses of five women, one man and a young boy have been picked up since Thursday in the Srinakrin dam's reservoir, not far from the border with Myanmar.
"I don't think that any more will be found," provincial police commander Major General Rawat Klingaysorn told AFP, adding: "None of the bodies show signs of assault."
He said they possibly died after their boat capsized. Police received a report of a boat accident on January 15 but never found the vehicle.
Humanitarian organisations estimate up to two million illegal Myanmar migrants are working in Thailand, with many vulnerable to exploitation and denied basic rights such as medical care.
Rawat said the number of people crossing the border had surged in recent weeks, as people from Myanmar head into Thailand to try to take advantage of an annual registration of migrant workers that begins on February 1.
Last month marine police in southwestern Thailand said 22 Myanmar migrant workers died in a boat accident as they tried to enter Thailand illegally.
