Thailand denies refugee status to boat people

A Thai court on Wednesday convicted 66 men detained at sea of illegally entering the country, raising the prospect they could be deported despite fears they may face persecution or death if sent back to Myanmar.

A Ranong provincial court judge fined each defendant 1,000 baht, or about $30 – a sum that none of them could produce. So he sentenced them to five days in prison. Four others were brought in from the hospital to face sentencing, one carried by two men because his legs were broken. continue http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/28/asia/thai.1-417396.php

Advertisement