South‐East Asia
Authors: Bain Irene 
Published: March 2003

This article investigates the issue of HIV and mobile populations in the Mekong Region countries (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), with particular regard to cross‐border migrants (both legal and undocumented), internal migrants, sex workers, and mobile occupational groups such as truck drivers, fishermen, seafarers and cross‐border traders. Economic opening in the region is occurring rapidly as some Mekong States move from centrally planned to market economies and some locations undergo unprecedented economic growth. The uneven nature of economic development has resulted in imbalances between rural and urban, agricultural and industrial areas, and in most places the health and education systems are inadequate for the needs of these new residents. Much of the movement between countries is illegal (i.e., by persons without necessary travel documents).

At the same time, HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent in much of the region, particularly in Myanmar and Thailand. Responses to the epidemic range from extremely limited approaches in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to wide‐ranging and sophisticated strategies in Thailand. In recent years China has begun to devote increased efforts to HIV/AIDS research and interventions in its huge “floating population” and to the provinces bordering the other South‐East Asian countries. However, there is as yet little systematic focus on migration and HIV/AIDS at a national level, and no significant regional cooperation on the issue.

Nevertheless, several region‐wide research/interventions have been created by aid organizations, NGOs and academic institutions in recent years, and these show considerable potential as models. AIDS Control and Prevention Project’s (AIDSCAP) cross‐border “hotspot” studies have included river trade routes on the Thai‐Lao border and fishing ports in Thailand and Cambodia. The Asian Research Centre for Migration (ARCM)’s project on Trans‐national Population Movement and HIV/AIDS, based at Thailand’s Chulalongkhorn University, has studied groups and issues such as migrantfishermen in six countries, Burmese migrant women in Thailand, various migrant populations in the Thai‐Myanmar border regions, and the impact of transport and infrastructure development on the spread of HIV/AIDS along six main inter‐country routes. Finally, the Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility (CARAM), which began as a partnership between the Malaysian NGO Tenaganita and the Free University of Amsterdam, now involves eight South‐East Asian countries in a range of self‐selected research and action projects by NGOs.

There are also a number of research and interventions in individual countries in the Mekong region, the greatest efforts currently being mounted by China and Thailand. In the past decade, the latter country has seen the entry of large numbers of undocumented economic migrants, the most numerous being illegal immigrants from Myanmar (currently estimated at close to a million persons) and over‐staying Chinese nationals (about 100,000 persons). Perhaps one million guest workers enter Thailand each year. At the same time, Thailand displays the most diversity in research approaches and the highest level of research capacity among the Mekong countries, not surprisingly given the comparative length of the epidemic and the relatively high level of economic development and social openness. Research into a broad range of migrant labour issues and worker legal status appears to have some influence on government policy direction.