Walking a diplomatic tightrope, Malaysia gave an assurance yesterday it would not immediately hand back 131 Thai Muslims who fled across the border this week from troubled southern Thailand. The mainly Muslim nation, with cultural and religious links with Thailandâs predominantly Muslim south, has taken the 64 men, 24 women and 43 children into immigration detention and is studying claims that they fled in fear of Thai security forces. âThe initial reports we have seem to suggest that they fear for their life and so they have come to this side,â Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. The group, which crossed the porous border on Tuesday, is the largest to come to Malaysia seeking protection from violence in southern Thailand, where tensions between many Muslims and Thai security forces have flared since January 2004. Malaysia is under some pressure domestically to treat the group sympathetically. But it also risks upsetting Thailand which, according to Syed Hamid, has denied the groupâs claims. âI have spoken twice today to the Thai foreign minister and he has told me there is no truth to them,â he said, referring to media reports that the Thais were afraid to return home.
In Bangkok, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the people were detained for âillegally enteringâ Malaysia and would be interviewed by Malaysian officials, a process that could take up to two weeks. âThey donât have any documents,â Sihasak told reporters, while denying the groupâs reported claims to be fleeing harassment by Thai soldiers and police. |