Thail Policeman released 18 Khmer Krom Refugees

Mou Sotheani, RFA
Translated from Khmer by Freedom
March 18, 2009

Khmer Krom Refugees 18 people who were detained by Thai police last Satursday were be released last Monday after intervening from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Mr. Son Savann who has the paper is issued to recognize by UNHCR and 17 person others who are issued to investigate and to recognize as the Refugees Status were be released on March 16, 2009 after monitoring of Lawer of UNHCR, Juarnalist and Local Civil societies.

Mr. Son Savann said by Telephone from Bang Kok that Thai authorities have a good behaviour when they released,"saw that polices have a good behaviour and respect us. They take the water for us to drink. When i went out for that place approximately 2 hours, they do not allow us to go out all in a time. They are afraid the juarnalist in front of its to take photo, let us go once 6 person. These 6 person go and take on the Taxi, then they let us go out by 6 person more. They wonder that who inform this information out? and have any number from polices, who give and arrived to interiew us in prison like this?." Mr. Son Savann said,"No, this matter i do not know, please ask RFA, any informaiton i do not know, i am in prison as a prisoner."

On Sunday, RFA had tried to contact the officers of Thai who is responsible for arresting Khmer Krom Refugees 26, but noone answered.

Anyway, the Office of UNHCR granted the promise to RFA that they will intervene by their work to solve to release the detainers as soon as posible.

Mr. Son Savann let us know that still have 8 Khmer Krom people are not released by Thai polices. Because all of them just arrive and do not have any document from UNHCR.

The people who are being detained there are 5 men and 3 women, in this group there also have a children, 4 aged and her mother.

Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, the president of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) which has the bigest Office in USA to appeal to UNHCR to quickly intervene to release that Khmer Krom from Thai polices. He said,"For arresting Khmer Krom Refugees recently in Bang Kok, we, KKF are concernce over them and we appeal to UNHCR, please pay attention and help to release 8 people who still be detained when they are waiting for interview. We hope that the relationship between these Organizations will solve and help Khmer Krom Refugees in Thailand."

Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach had said that he had issued a letter to call for interning from any Organization which relating to solve this problem as soon as posible.