Post by bahnoo on Sept 9, 2006 2:25:56 GMT 7
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Authorities to curb influx of N. Koreans via Chiang Rai
THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA
Chiang Rai _ The assistant provincial governor, districts chiefs, immigration officers and police are working together to curb the influx of North Korean migrants by weeding out illegal brokers. Officials said about 30 North Koreans illegally enter Thailand through Chiang Rai each month, hoping to be deported to South Korea or another third country.
North Korean migrants usually pay brokers to take them to the police so they will be arrested, providing them with the opportunity to seek asylum.
Many brokers are fellow North Koreans disguised as tourists who help the migrants slip into Thailand, according to a source in the National Security Council (NSC).
The source said that with the help of these brokers who reap huge profits for their service, North Korean migrants are able to travel deeper into Thai territory.
The surge in the number of North Korean asylum-seekers has prompted the NSC to find ways to push them back as they are regarded as a national security risk. The source said that part of the solution lies with cracking down on the network of brokers through swift enforcement of immigration laws.
Assistant provincial governor Pinij Harnpanit said a network of South Koreans in Chiang Rai was acting as facilitator in the racket.
Mr Pinij made the comment after emerging from a meeting with the district chiefs of Chiang Saen and Mae Sai, and representatives of the Immigration Police Bureau and Chiang Rai police.
The meeting, organised on the NSC's directive, discussed measures to keep out illegal North Korean immigrants.
An intelligence officer said these North Korean brokers also traffic in people, making inroads into the illegal activity once dominated by the Chinese. Some of the Korean restaurants located in Chiang Rai's border districts are suspected to have close ties with these brokers.
A group of people claiming to be South Korean university students often showed up at police stations in Chiang Rai bringing food and drinks to the arrested Koreans on a daily basis, a police source said.
Authorities to curb influx of N. Koreans via Chiang Rai
THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA
Chiang Rai _ The assistant provincial governor, districts chiefs, immigration officers and police are working together to curb the influx of North Korean migrants by weeding out illegal brokers. Officials said about 30 North Koreans illegally enter Thailand through Chiang Rai each month, hoping to be deported to South Korea or another third country.
North Korean migrants usually pay brokers to take them to the police so they will be arrested, providing them with the opportunity to seek asylum.
Many brokers are fellow North Koreans disguised as tourists who help the migrants slip into Thailand, according to a source in the National Security Council (NSC).
The source said that with the help of these brokers who reap huge profits for their service, North Korean migrants are able to travel deeper into Thai territory.
The surge in the number of North Korean asylum-seekers has prompted the NSC to find ways to push them back as they are regarded as a national security risk. The source said that part of the solution lies with cracking down on the network of brokers through swift enforcement of immigration laws.
Assistant provincial governor Pinij Harnpanit said a network of South Koreans in Chiang Rai was acting as facilitator in the racket.
Mr Pinij made the comment after emerging from a meeting with the district chiefs of Chiang Saen and Mae Sai, and representatives of the Immigration Police Bureau and Chiang Rai police.
The meeting, organised on the NSC's directive, discussed measures to keep out illegal North Korean immigrants.
An intelligence officer said these North Korean brokers also traffic in people, making inroads into the illegal activity once dominated by the Chinese. Some of the Korean restaurants located in Chiang Rai's border districts are suspected to have close ties with these brokers.
A group of people claiming to be South Korean university students often showed up at police stations in Chiang Rai bringing food and drinks to the arrested Koreans on a daily basis, a police source said.