Han Lay, who captured international attention last year with a moving beauty pageant speech calling for urgent help for Myanmar’s people during a military crackdown, did not have a valid visa to enter Thailand, the immigration department said.
The 23-year-old was not being detained and arrangements were being made for her to board a flight out of Thailand, the department said in a statement.
Nawit Itsaragrisil, founder of Thailand’s Miss Grand International pageant, who also represents Han Lay, said she had been in the transit area of a Bangkok airport since Wednesday afternoon.
He said Han Lay was stopped on arrival because she was subject of an Interpol notice.
“She doesn’t want to go anywhere else. She wants to live in Thailand,” he told Reuters. “She’s waiting for a solution on how she can stay in Thailand.”
Myanmar has been crisis since a coup in February last year triggered protests that the military suppressed with lethal force and thousands of arrests.
Since seizing power, the junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has embarked on a bloody crackdown against any opposition to its rule.
The junta’s crackdown has included multiple targets, from pro-democracy and youth groups, to activists, politicians and even celebrities and social media influencers.
The military has been accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes by the United States, the United Nations and other international bodies as it attempts to assert control over the people, who continue to wage a mass resistance…
