AFP-Thailand wants Myanmar students

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Subject: AFP-Thailand wants Myanmar students out of country after hostage crisis

Thailand wants Myanmar students out of country after hostage crisis
BANGKOK, Oct 6 (AFP) - Thailand said Wednesday it planned to round up exiled
Myanmar students and send them to a third country, after five student gunmen
took almost 40 people hostage at Yangon's embassy here.
In the wake of the 25-hour hostage crisis, which ended with the gunmen
fleeing Bangkok by helicopter Saturday, Thai authorities met to discuss ways
to prevent more international terrorism on Thai soil.

The National Security Council (NSC) said it would round up exiled students
inside Thailand, check their status, and prosecute those found to have
entered the country illegally.

All students would then be transferred to the Maneeloy holding centre near
the Thai-Myanmar Border, and the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) would be asked to quickly transfer them to a third country.

"We will consult with the UNHCR to send an estimated 2,800 Myanmar students
to another country," Khachadpai Burusapatana, NSC secretary-general told
reporters after the meeting top security agencies.

The UNHCR said it had not been informed of the move yet but would continue
to apply long-standing policies on resettlement.

"In accordance with established practice we will continue to promote
resettlement of those refugees who qualify for third country resettlement,"
a UNHCR spokesman said.

Interior ministry spokesman Veerachai Naewboonian said students who were not
accepted by a third country would be repatriated to Myanmar.

Veerachai said Thailand had already moved to ensure students were confined
to the Maneeloy holding centre in Ratchburi province.

"Authorities will step up rules and regulations at the Maneeloy holding
centre," Veerachai said.

Despite the crackdown on exiled students, Bangkok denied claims by Yangon
that refugee camps inside Thailand were being used as terrorist bases.

"On this issue Thailand has a clear cut policy that we will not allow any
groups of terrorists to operate against neigbouring countries from inside
our country," Khachadpai said.

He said Thailand's policy of sheltering 100,000 refugees along the
Thai-Myanmar border would remain unchanged, but all illegal Myanmar workers
would be repatriated.

"We have extended permission for 80,000 to 90,000 Myanmar workers, but those
who are not granted an extension will be prosecuted for violating
immigration laws," he said.

In addition, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has instructed police to tighten
security at 65 embassies and 10 consulates in Bangkok.

Thai Special Branch Police deputy commissioner Major General Yothin
Matthayanun said his agency would focus on improving security for diplomatic
missions of neighbouring countries and nations embroiled in political
disputes, such as Indonesia.