Thailand provides assistance to illegal Muslim immigrants

SONGKHLA, THAILAND, March 15 (TNA) - Thailand has provided assistance to over 200 illegal Muslim immigrants, especially children and women, who were arrested in a rubber plantation in Songkhla Province in the Thai South last Wednesday night and have now been found to be Uighurs fleeing from China's western Xinjiang Province. Caretaker Social Development and Human Security Paveena Hongsakul and her entourage traveled to Songkhla on Saturday to visit the 220 illegal Muslim immigrants, comprising 78 males, 60 females,10 of them are pregnant, as well as 82 children. The caretaker minister told reporters that the illegal Muslim immigrants, particularly, children and women, will be provided with welfare assistance, as her ministry has cooperated with agencies concerned, including the Children's Orphanage, the Royal Thai Police and the Technical Promotion and Support Office (TPSO). Besides, her ministry will seek cooperation and assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Thailand. The caretaker minister also asked local police to provide the illegal Muslim immigrants with the best surveillance and security around the clock. (TNA)