190 Illegals Nabbed

PATONG BEACH: Immigration, Marine Police and Tourist Police officers rounded up 190 illegal aliens last week. Of the 190, 164 were from Burma and 26 from Cambodia. Pol Gen Sant Sarutanond, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, said most of the illegals were arrested in Patong. Tourists want to relax, he said, but the illegal beggars, particularly the children, bother them constantly, hugging the tourists’ legs and looking as though they are about to burst into tears. He said that the aliens gave Thais a bad name because they look like Thais, and are taken for Thais, when they beg from foreigners. Gen Sant said the illegals tend to focus their activities on Patong, especially when the US Navy arrives, making money from either prostitution or begging. Those apprehended were packed into trucks and cars and sent home, the Burmese via Ranong and the Cambodians via Sa Kaeo. Police gave each 15 baht worth of rice for the journey.