by Mizzima News
Friday, 04 September 2009 22:22
Chaing Mai (Mizzima) – The Thai government has issued a passport to a Burmese boy born in Thailand so that he can join the origami plane competition to be held in Japan soon.
Mong Thongdee (12) studying in a government school in Huay Sai, Chiang Mai was issued travel documents for a single Thai-Japan round trip which holds good for 90 days, Thai daily paper ‘The Nation’ reported in its website today.
The government decided to issue travel documents to the Thai born Burmese boy following a meeting by the Thai Interior Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Security Council.
Mong Thongdee was born of Burmese migrant workers working in Chiang Mai. His parents are ethnic Shan. Initially the Home Ministry refused to issue travel documents to him.
Mong won the first prize in a paper aeroplane competition held in Bangkok last year. His aeroplane could stay afloat for 12.5 seconds.
Following the competition he was entitled to join the Origami Airplane competition to be held in Japan on September 19 and 20. If he gets a visa to Japan, he is likely to leave Thailand on September 16.
Mong Thongdee could meet the Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva in the Parliament House yesterday.
The Thai PM said that this was a good example of tackling stateless children by Thai government departments.
The issuance of travel documents is based on human rights, mutual understanding among the countries and international agreement reached by Thailand, the District Administration Chief Vonset Sawadipanik said.
Ironically, Mong is still in the list of migrant workers who will be deported in February next year, he added.
After the initial refusal by the Interior Ministry to issue travel documents to the boy, the Thai Lawyer Council filed a case against the Interior Ministry Minister Chaovarat Chaoviraku on charges of human rights violation. Academics and human right activists also criticised him for human rights violation.
Friday, September 4, 2009
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