Thailand and Cambodia will cooperate to quash rumours of a crackdown byThailand's military administration on illegal migrant workers, aftermore than 185,000 Cambodians fled the country to return home.

The Thai rulers have issued no policy to crack down on labourers, saidCambodian Ambassador to Thailand Eat Sophea after a meeting on June 17in Bangkok with Thai Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary SihasakPhuangketkeow.

Eat also dismissed rumours that Thaiauthorities shot and badly treated Cambodian immigrants, stating thatinformation about the supposed shootings and abuse is untrue.

She also stated that the two sides agreed to work closely to clarifythe issue and set up a hotline on matters related to labourers.

Earlier, Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng blamed the Thai armyfor the deaths of eight Cambodian who were fleeing home.

Meanwhile, the Thai National Council of Peace and Order also confirmedno policy of deporting immigrant labourers as well as no operationsagainst them.

According to the InternationalOrganisation for Immigration, about 180,000 Cambodians are working inThailand without work permits. However, Cambodia’s Interior Ministrystatistics show that the figure is closer to 400,000.

Apart from Cambodian labourers, those from Myanmar and Laos are alsomajor sources of labour in Thailand, playing an important role in thecountry’s development.-VNA