Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - April 2, 2001
Anjira Assavanonda
The docu-drama No Home Too Far is expected to run for one hour. It will be shown at fishing piers and small villages along the Thai-Cambodian border where Khmer workers live.
The project is being undertaken by the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (Path) with sponsorship from Family Health International.
Banjong Kosalawat, a lecturer at Thammasat University's faculty of journalism and director of the film, said the film will be mainly educational, targeting both Khmer workers and Thais.
"The film will carry the message to Khmer workers that if they want to come to Thailand they must plan carefully, save as much money as possible and return to Cambodia as quickly as they can.
"Without a plan, they will have nothing left and may even end up with HIV/Aids," Mr Banjong said.
He hoped Thai people would learn to understand how hard-working the Cambodians are, and that the film will discourage social prejudice and stop employers from taking advantage of Khmer workers.
"We need to accept that part of the Thai economy depends on the hard work of these Khmer fishing crews," Mr Banjong said.
Most of the cast are Khmer people, and mostly lecturers and students from Cambodia's Royal University of Fine Arts, with only a few Thais.
Pawana Vienravee, Path's project adviser, said the film is based on true stories. The production team had spent more than a year gathering background material in Rayong province, where a large number of boat crews are based, and in Praiweng, a Cambodian border province which is home to many of them. She said Khmer boat crews were at a disadvantage because they entered the country illegally, and few could speak Thai.
"They are foreigners and must struggle," Ms Pawana said. "The work is hard and their employers selfish. Most are not covered by medical welfare because they are illegal workers. But they cannot return home until they earn enough money."
The trip costs each Khmer worker 7,000-10,000 baht. Some must mortgage their rice fields or sell their cattle. Others become heavily in debt.
In return they are paid 15,000-20,000 baht for eight or nine months' work.
Many do not save any money at all. Working on a boat can be stressful and there is a temptation to relax and enjoy themselves whenever they are in port.
"Some spend their money having sex with Thai girls, and end up infected with HIV/Aids.
"Some crew members die at sea and their bodies are thrown overboard. Others return home only to die," she said. The programme hopes to educate the crews in the use of condoms.
Although the Khmer crews were important to the fishing industry, their rights were not in any way protected, she said.
In Rayong, for example, there were more than 800 fishing boats each with about 30 crew, almost entirely Khmer.
"Thai people are not willing to do this kind of work, and we need to accept that our fishing industry is in need of these Khmer workers.
"The law should be amended to ensure their basic rights as well as to allow their access to health services," she said.
Filming is due to start tomorrow in Rayong and will then move to locations along the Cambodian border. It is expected to take three months to finish.
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