BANGKOK, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Twenty Palestinian nationals were rounded up at a Bangkok hotel and faced with overstaying charges, said Thai police on Monday.
The 20 Palestinians, including seven children, have allegedly overstayed since they entered Thailand and called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' office in Bangkok in bid to seek asylum in a third country several years ago, said Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol. Maj. Gen. SurachateHakparn.
The police raided the hotel in Khlong Chan area of Bang Kapi district and found the Palestinians and Iraqis in five hotel rooms, which have been illegally provided as temporary shelter where they have overstayed against the law, according to the Immigration Bureau chief.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate commented that any refugees who may have sought asylum in a third country under care of the UNHCR are supposed to be easily reached at any given time by authorities, but those Middle Eastern nationals have allegedly remained in hiding and failed to notify the authorities of their whereabouts.
Over 2,000 refugees have managed to enter Thailand with intent to seek asylum in third countries yearly, Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate said.
An unidentified Thai citizen was charged with illegally providing the hotel rooms for the Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, he said.
Besides, two Somalian nationals were also found at that hotel and charged with illegal entry.
