Border Patrols Boosted After Illegal Entries

Patrols boosted after illegal entries

CHIANG RAI: -- Thailand's Navy has increased its patrols in the Mekong River to intercept waterborne refugees, especially those from North Korea, moving downriver from China, Myanmar and Laos and illegally entering the kingodm through its cross-river border with Laos.

The kingdom's northernmost border province of Chiang Rai is on alert for the illegal movement of North Koreans following the illegal entry and arrest of 185 persons from there at an abandoned house in central Bangkok earlier this week, a senior navy officer said Saturday.

Capt. Saeng-arun Saraket, patrol commander in Chiang Rai, said the Royal Thai Navy had increased river patrols from the Golden Triangle area to Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong District in order to prevent the illegal entry of North Koreans, as well as illegal cross border smuggling.

He admitted that preventing the illegal entry of North Koreans is very difficult because of the length of the Mekong River and an insufficiency of officers to police the border.

Passenger boats traveling from Laos to Thailand are now searched thoroughly, Capt. Saeng-arun said, while personnel from the Marine Police, Immigration Police and administrative officials have reinforced the Navy's riverine patrols.

Police in Bangkok detained the 185 North Koreans following a raid Tuesday night at an abandoned house and the court has convicted most of the adults on charges of illegal entry and fined them Bt6,000 (about US$160) each.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans have tried to flee hunger and repression in their home country in recent years.

They often slip into foreign embassies in neighboring countries to escape arrest and repatriation.

Immigration police have said most of the arrests left their impoverished homeland by slipping into China and traveled further by foot to Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.

Some traveled by boat from China to Chiang Rai's Mae Sai border district.

--TNA 2006-08-26