Khmer Krom Refugees were arrested by Thai policeman

Khmer Krom Refugees in Thailand

Translated from RFA By Freedom

March 17, 2009

Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Refugees approximately 24 were be arrested by Bang Kok authorities on March 14, 2009.

Source clarifies that 26 Khmer Krom Refugees were be arrested and detained by Thai policeman there are 9 women including a baby girl just 1 age and a childrend just 4 ages. Beside here there are 17 gentleman whom also have a children 13 ages in this group.

A person who was be detained, issued the paper to recognize by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and another person a mong 26 people declared to RFA from detain place that a mong of people were be arrested beside him there are Khmer Krom Refugees approximately 15 person who had issued a paper to recognize from UNHCR that they will be investigated soon. And other 10 person just be arrived without any document. Among 10 person there has a Chau Heng's son whom is just arrived and met his father's face on March 10, 2009.

A person who was be detained said,"We take our bottles to keep the water from Water Close (WC) to drink and they give rice to us a small dish as 4 or 5 spoons and have no any food. A baby and childrend who were be arrested seems very suffering. They should not detained them because some childrend just from 2 to 13 ages, and these ages there are 4 people. Furthermore, a baby girl just 1 age was be used poison gas to her home and then she was lost consciousness. When they saw that baby was lost consciousness, they were afraid she dies. I think that she dies, but they use the electric fan and they use the water to clean her nose. Now she is sick and staying in dangerous time because they keep all of us only one place approximately 30 person with a small room 4m2. It is including Laos."

Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bang Kok, have a mention witout giving name to clarify that her Offices have known that problem and tried to contact Thai polices many time, but noone gets phone.

She said,"We had got this information last night and we try to contact to Thai police station. Today is sunday, but we still try to contact to police station more, and the police who stays there went out. We will try to contact more tomorrow. I have contacted more time today, but noone answers my phone. Our group will try to help them and take them from that police station."