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

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

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

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

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

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

According to the International Organisation for Immigration, about 180,000 Cambodians are working in Thailand without work permits. However, Cambodia’s Interior Ministry statistics show that the figure is closer to 400,000.

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