21 Cambodians Arrested For Illegal Entry

[george]

21 Cambodians arrested for illegal entry

SAKAEW: -- A Thai military unit patrolling the Khmer border on Monday arrested 21 Cambodians as they crossed into Thailand on foot enroute to the kingdom's southernmost province of Pattani intending to find employment.

Capt. Salitpong Kaewpila of the Burapha Special Task Force said his unit encountered the Cambodians during a routine patrol as they attempted to cross Prom Hod Canal to the Thai side.

The 21 Cambodian men and women told the captain they were heading to Pattani for work promised by Muslim friends, but they possessed no travel documents.

The captain then escorted them to a Thai army base for further investigation.

Initial questioning showed three men and two women to be Muslim.

The captain said he was suspicious of their attempt to go to Pattani, where violence continues unabated.

''They said they were promised jobs by some Cambodian Muslims in Pattani, but they don't know how to get there and what jobs are awaiting them,'' the captain said.

''They said they paid Cambodian officials at the border 100 baht each to let them cross to Thailand without proper documents,'' said the captain.

Shortly after the arrest, Col. Chaichaiyayan Sothornchai, head of Burapha Special Task Force, Division 12, investigated the Muslims and ordered their further questioning as he feared they might have been deceived to the join the insurgency in southern Thailand.

Thailand has experienced continuing violence in its three predominantly Muslim provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since early 2004, with over 1,300 people having died in almost daily insurgent attacks.

--TNA 2006-08-21

[Scott]

It's amazing how easy it is for some people to get into Thailand--only 100 Baht.