BANGKOK – A Myanmar model and beauty pageant contestant was denied entry into Thailand on Wednesday.
Miss Grand International Myanmar 2020, Han Lay – who spoke against the military coup at the pageant last year – was turned away after arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Vietnam on Wednesday.
In a statement, Thailand’s Immigration Bureau denied the 23-year old Han Lay was detained.
It said the model did not have a valid visa to enter Thailand, under Section 12(1) of the Immigration Act.
“Arrangement has been made with airlines for her to board a flight out of Thailand,” the bureau said in a statement.
Bangkok Post reported that Nawat Itsaragrisil, the founder of the Miss Grand International pageant, said Han Lay has been staying in the airport’s transit area since Wednesday afternoon.
Han Lay, who made the top 20 at the Miss Grand International pageant in Bangkok last year, caught international attention when she called for urgent help for Myanmar’s people due to the military crackdown following the February 1, 2021 coup.
After videos of her talking about bloodshed back home went viral on social media, the pageant’s management arranged for her to stay in Thailand for three months at its expense to ensure her safety. – Bernama, September 23, 2022
