On what would be an otherwise unremarkable day in the industrial parks of Samut Sakhon – home to hundreds of thousands of Burmese migrant workers – optimism and excitement spilled onto the streets today as thousands of people heaved and cheered the arrival of Burmese democracy icon Aung Saan Suu Kyi.
“Everyone took the day off. You can see around you,” said 30-year-old factory worker Moe Min from Mawlamyine, Burma (Myanmar).
Moe Min was one of the thousands who came out to greet the newly elected Burmese opposition leader as she visited the Migrant Workers’ Rights Network center in Mahachai on her first trip abroad since 1988. Ms. Suu Kyi arrived last night at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on a Thai Airways flight.
Amid chanting, cheering, and singing, Ms. Suu Kyi’s motorcade arrived and she quickly made her way inside the center to appear moments later on the fourth-floor balcony, from where she addressed the crowd in the Burmese language, before going back inside to speak with migrant families.
The attentiveness and enthusiasm of those gathered outside left no doubt that support for the 62-year-old democracy activist-cum-prisoner-cum-opposition leader is strong in these parts.
“I am so happy, because she is our hope for democracy,” Moe Min said.
A member of the Burma Democratic Network, who gave his name only as “Somchai”, from Arakan (Rakhine) State in Burma, echoed the sentiment: “We are all very happy that she is here and that we can have a good future.”
Many migrant workers in Thailand hope that Ms. Suu Kyi’s visit will shed more light on the conditions in which they work and eventually pave the way for them to return to their homeland.
“She wants to see the situation of refugees and migrant workers – she doesn’t want them to stay here, so she might do something about it,” said Hong Sar, a Burmese migrant worker active with Thailand-based NGOs.
“I support her because people know that she didn’t just come here for the meeting, but she cares about migrant workers. I am one of them, so I’m really proud and happy,” he said.
After making a brief return to the balcony to share a few more words with the crowds below, Ms. Suu Kyi made her exit to attend the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum East Asia in Bangkok.
Despite difficulties in planning and communication with Ms. Suu Kyi’s team regarding her visit to Thailand, today’s events seemed largely a success.
Andy Hall, Migration Expert at Mahidol University Institute for Population and Social Research, and organizer of today’s visit said that the number of people who turned out was expected.
“It’s a wonderful day. It has brought to the surface a hope and happiness that too often could not be seen in the migrants from Myanmar in Thailand. More than 10,000 people showed up today, as was expected. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is their queen, their mother, their hope, and the fact that she came to them first, for the migrants, it was a dream come true,” Mr. Hall said.
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