
-
Israel PM, security agency fight it out in public
-
Courtois returns from Belgium exile for Nations League duty
-
Dupont absence 'changes nothing' for Alldritt before France's Six Nations decider
-
Russia 'committed crimes against humanity' in Ukraine: UN probe
-
Trump hails 'productive' truce talks with Russia, urges Putin to spare Ukrainians
-
Hundreds of Olympians call on IOC candidates to make climate top priority
-
Florence cathedral closed as Italy's Tuscany on flood alert
-
Mark Carney: Canada's new PM charted unusual path to power
-
Arteta 'proud' of Lewis-Skelly's England call-up
-
Mark Carney sworn in as Canada PM
-
US govt shutdown in balance after top Democrat avoids fight
-
Pope marks month in hospital as footballers send messages
-
Crew launch to ISS paves way for stranded astronauts' homecoming
-
Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US hostage, four bodies
-
Wainwright says Wales want to send Sherratt out on Six Nations high
-
Just looking at images of nature can relieve pain, study finds
-
Guardiola relishing 'big fight' for Champions League qualification
-
Duterte follows ICC hearing over drug war case via videolink
-
Mark Carney to be sworn in as Canada PM
-
Chelsea can be flexible, says Maresca
-
UN migration agency laying off around 20% of HQ staff amid US aid cuts: sources
-
Pique denies Rubiales kickbacks in Spanish Super Cup move to Saudi
-
Tuchel hopes to bring Premier League power to England reign
-
UN chief promises to do "everything" to avoid food cuts to Rohingyas in Bangladesh
-
UniCredit gets ECB nod on Commerzbank stake, but delays merger decision
-
Sri Lanka adjusts train timings to tackle elephant deaths
-
Scotland out to 'disrupt' France's Six Nations title hopes, says Russell
-
BMW expects big hit from tariffs after 2024 profits plunge
-
Bayern's Kim sidelined for 'several weeks' with injury
-
Kremlin says Putin sent 'additional' signals to Trump on ceasefire
-
Funding cuts force WFP to stop food aid to one million in Myanmar
-
Thai football body to sue former chief over finances
-
Spain call up Asencio for Nations League quarters
-
Duterte set to face ICC judges in drug war case
-
Gold tops $3,000 for first time on Trump tariff threats
-
Canada's Carney to be sworn in as new PM
-
Brignone on verge of World Cup glory with La Thuile super-G triumph
-
UK energy minister heads to China to talk climate
-
Fernandes hits back at Ratcliffe over 'overpaid' jibe
-
Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold to miss League Cup final in injury blow
-
'God never sleeps': Philippines opponents of Duterte's drug war
-
Syrian Druze cross armistice line for pilgrimage to Israel
-
Thousands pay to catch glimpse of Ohtani practise in Tokyo
-
French finance minister calls trade war 'idiotic', plans US trip
-
UN chief in Rohingya refugee camp solidarity visit
-
Rashford, Henderson recalled in Tuchel's first England squad
-
WFP says funding shortfall forces it to cut food aid to 1 mn people in Myanmar
-
Taiwan tech giant Foxconn's 2024 profit misses forecasts
-
Duterte set to make first ICC appearance
-
Hamilton content after 'completely different' first Ferrari day

War of words: Myanmar migrants face disinformation in Thailand
More than a million people have fled Myanmar's brutal civil war to seek shelter and work in neighbouring Thailand, where experts say nationalists are using disinformation to fuel prejudice against them.
Social media platforms have been flooded by false claims that Myanmar migrant workers were demanding a 700-baht ($21) minimum daily wage -- almost twice that paid to Thais.
One of them attracted millions of views, and a former Thai intelligence heavyweight was among those who shared the images.
Analysts say some Thai authorities deliberately reinforce the nationalistic ideologies that drive xenophobia in the country -- which was invaded by Burma in the 18th century.
That history has mutated into modern fears that workers from Myanmar are "stealing" jobs.
Linn, a 37-year-old factory worker in Bangkok, is still only making the official minimum wage of 400 baht a day after 17 years in Thailand.
"The clip claiming that Myanmar workers are demanding 700 baht is a fabrication", he said.
Nantiwat Samart, ex-deputy director of Thailand's National Intelligence Agency, was among those who amplified the claim.
Last month, he reuploaded three images from different events, falsely alleging they were of migrant workers demanding 700 baht a day.
"Thais have aided war refugees long enough," he posted on Facebook.
"They all should return from whence they came so that Thais have more jobs."
His post garnered almost 500 comments and was shared nearly 15,000 times, more than any other on the issue.
AFP debunked all of his images, but he did not respond to requests for comment.
- 'Hate speech' -
Thailand and Myanmar share many aspects of culture and religion, but their history also includes centuries of warfare.
Burmese forces invaded in the 16th century, followed by years of battles, including in 1767 when they burned the capital, killed civilians and soldiers and took thousands prisoner.
The story of Burmese aggression is embedded in Thai consciousness from school onwards.
Myanmar labour rights expert Hnin Wut Yee said authorities seek to exploit historical resentments.
"Referring to history or warning against these foreign invasions can trigger the nationalist mindset, or could sustain a sense of togetherness in defence of external enemies," she told AFP.
Migrants from Myanmar have long sought low-paid jobs in the richer neighbour, facing similar fears and prejudices as immigrants around the world.
Since Myanmar was plunged into civil war by a military coup in 2021, millions more have been displaced. Many fled to Thailand.
Thailand's Foreign Workers Administration Office says the number of registered migrant workers from Myanmar has soared from 1.5 million in 2020 to 2.3 million four years later.
The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates another 1.8 million are working illegally, without them or their employers paying taxes or social security, and without legal protection.
IOM says Thailand has seen a "surge in anti-migrant sentiment and hate speech targeted towards Myanmar nationals", primarily fuelled by disinformation on social media.
- 'Coordinated campaign' -
Many migrants earn much less than the official minimum, taking low-paid, difficult and dangerous work that Thais are reluctant to do, but many still see them as a threat to their jobs or pay.
Growing migrant numbers are driving anti-migrant misinformation, according to Lalita Hanwong, a historian at Kasetsart University and security advisor to the Thai government.
"This is a coordinated campaign designed to curb the number of Burmese in Thailand," she said, by framing them as "national security threats".
AFP fact-checkers found that the videos of supposed minimum wage protests were old and were of other events.
The most widely circulated was actually shot by a Myanmar migrant demonstrating against high visa and work permit fees.
"I don't want someone to take advantage by manipulating my video," they told AFP, asking for anonymity out of concerns for their job and security.
"Also, I don't want negative impacts in my life because my video was used the wrong way."
The workers have endured prejudice for decades.
"Some Thais really like us due to our diligence and loyalty to our employers," said Cho, a 40-year-old garment worker in Bangkok.
"But at the same time, some may perceive us negatively, that we are taking their jobs."
T.Bondarenko--BTB