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By The Irrawaddy 22 September 2022
Miss Grand Worldwide Myanmar 2020 Han Lay was detained at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday.
On March 27 final yr, after the February coup, she appealed to the media in Thailand, the place she had been competing in a magnificence pageant, for worldwide assist to rescue Myanmar from the regime.
Since then she has been dwelling in Thailand and talking out in opposition to the regime. On September 18 she left for Vietnam for a visa renewal and was detained on the Thai airport on her return.
Han Lay spoke to The Irrawaddy about her arrest.
How have been you stopped on the Thai airport?
I had been in Thailand for almost two years and I overstayed my vacationer visa. Thai immigration informed me that it was simpler to resume my visa if I left Thailand for some time and re-entered. I went to Vietnam with none hassle however after I arrived again on the Thai airport I used to be informed my passport was on an Interpol record and was registered as lacking.
I heard that Myanmar additionally alerted Vietnam that my passport was lacking and that I’m on the Interpol record as a wished prison.
I’m nonetheless at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. I informed the [Thai authorities] that I’m not flying again to Vietnam. They will’t pressure me. I don’t know what they may do.
What did Thai authorities say?
They need me to return to Vietnam. However my passport is registered as lacking and I will probably be despatched again to Myanmar. I can’t go to Vietnam. I insisted on staying on the airport for now as I’ve contacted the [United Nations refugee agency] UNHCR. It contacted Thai immigration and reported the case to the Thai authorities.
How are you being handled on the airport?
I used to be taken to the airport detention heart. Now they know my id I’m allowed to remain freely. However I can’t go anyplace. They seized my passport and tail me.
Had been detained as a result of the regime named you a prison?
Myanmar’s police reported me [to the Thai authorities] and put me on the Interpol record. I’ve been in Thailand for almost 18 months and have been allowed to resume my visa recurrently.
What cost has the regime filed in opposition to you?
It charged me with excessive treason underneath Article 121 [of the Penal Code] and caught a search warrant to my home.
What are your plans?
I hope the UNCHR can assist because it appears to be the one company that protects refugees from hostile states, irrespective of the place I am going, regardless of the Interpol record. I dedicated no crime.
Did you count on this after talking up?
I’m offended in regards to the Interpol record. I don’t like human rights violations and so I condemned them. I believed they might difficulty an arrest warrant in Myanmar on the most. I believed I may go to different nations even when I can’t return to Myanmar.
I’m not going again to Myanmar. I will probably be in peril. I’ll await assist from the UNHCR. Possibly I can keep in Thailand or one other nation.
How was your life in Thailand?
Miss Grand Worldwide C [the pageant organizer] supplied my lodging and meals because the contest. They gave me a job at their workplace round two months in the past to assist handle pageant contestants. They’ve additionally contacted the Thai authorities to assist me.
How will detention have an effect on your beliefs?
I’ve by no means regretted my feedback. My beliefs have turn out to be stronger.
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