Thailand deports dozens of Muslims headed to south

<p>ANKARA (AA) – Thailand deported more than 30 Muslims from Cambodia who had come to the Buddhist-majority country on valid visas.</p> <p>Thai police deported the 34 Muslims who allegedly wanted to work in the troubled deep South. The group included 32 males and 2 females, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper.</p> <p>Police claimed the visitors ‘‘did not meet immigration requirements’’.</p> <p>‘‘All of them were traveling on tourist visas but many said they planned to work in the southern provinces,’’ the newspaper quoted Thai police.</p> <p>After crossing the Thai-Cambodian frontier into Sa Kaeo region, the group was asked to return to the Cambodian border town of Poipet.</p> <p> They reached the Sa Kaeo region where they were detained after police sought the purpose of the visit. Cambodian authorities were also asked to join the investigation.</p> <p>Thai police argued to ‘‘prevent any misunderstanding’’ the group was detained.</p> <p>‘‘The officers found their trips were not endorsed by authorized officials and the group could not tell them exactly where they planned to stay in Thailand,’’ the newspaper said.</p> <p>‘‘An inspection also found that each of them brought between 1,000 and 3,000 Thai baht [$32 – $96], which fell short of the minimum requirement of 20,000 baht [$639],’’ police added.</p> <p>The newspaper said Thai railway police on Thursday in Songkhla province's Hat Yai district dealt with a ‘‘similar case of illegal travelers involving three Cambodian Muslims.’’</p> <p> Two did not have passports, however, they were on their way to Malaysia, the news report added.</p> <p>Thailand is facing decades-long insurgency in its south where Muslim groups want independence or greater autonomy.