Group wants Thailand to free refugees

BANGKOK: Thai authorities should release 35 Pakistani and Somali asylum seekers arrested in recent raids, a rights group said yesterday, slamming arrests that swept up more than a dozen children.

Most of the men, women and children held documents issued by the United Nation’s refugee agency when they were detained here on Oct 21, 30 and 31, said watchdog Fortify Rights.

A total of 19 children were initially arrested, with six, including four unaccompanied Somali minors, were still in detention, the watchdog said. Many of the adults were charged with overstaying their visas or other immigration violations.

Fortify Rights director Amy Smith called for their swift release and lambasted the authorities for “trampling on the rights of asylum seekers”.

“Asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their home countries shouldn’t experience further violations in Thailand,” she said.

The asylum seekers living in the country’s shadows hail from nearly 50 countries, with Pakistanis — many of them Christians — making up the biggest block. AFP