Two Rohingya caught, but 30 still free

 

The Nation August 13, 2013 1:00 am

Phuket immigration police have arrested another two Rohingya suspects charged with illegally entering the country who had escaped detention.

Another 30 men are still at large.

Thirty-six of 38 Rohingya men and women escaped from detention on Saturday night after all were detained at Koh Lone, in Phuket's Muang district, for illegally entering the country on March 23.

Police had tracked four down earlier before another two were rounded up.

Pol Colonel Sanchai Chokkayaikij, superintendent of the Phuket Immigration Office, said the suspects broke through |the wall of a toilet, removing |metal bars and the ceiling of the building before climbing over the fence.

He denied reports the Rohingya refugees had escaped in a truck, saying a security camera did not show any footage of a vehicle as claimed.
Sanchai said he had been told the Rohingya escaped because of stress caused by their long detention - even though police had helped them by providing recreational activities.

Although he admitted there were not enough officials to take care of 38 detainees, he denied the detention room was overcrowded.

Immigration police believe the 30 missing Rohingya are still in Phuket, and they have sought help from Phuket police to find those still at large.