Thai refugees in good condition: UN

Thai refugees in good condition: UN

MALAYSIA: Officials from the United Nations refugee agency said
on Wednesday that 131 Thai Muslims who entered Malaysia to flee
escalating violence in southern Thailand were in good condition
as officials begin meeting and interviewing the refugees.

A delegation from the Kuala Lumpur office of the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) arrived in
Malaysia's northern Kelantan state Tuesday to begin the
interviews, an official from the agency said.

The Thai refugees had crossed over to Malaysia on Thursday,
claiming they were fleeing violence and persecution from Thai
security forces, who have been accused of targeting Moslems in
their bid to quell an insurgency in the south.

The 64 men, 24 women and 43 children are being sheltered at
the Tanah Merah immigration transit center in Kelantan, the Star
daily reported.

Thai authorities expressed concern Tuesday that the UNHCR
involvement would be exploited by Moslem militants seeking to
paint the southern situation as one of political and religious
persecution. -- DPA