Myanmar beauty queen who criticised junta granted asylum
published : 26 Sep 2022 at 20:45
writer: Wassayos Ngamkham
A former Myanmar beauty queen detained at Suvarnabhumi airport after she was barred from entering the country last week has been granted refugee status in Canada.
The Myanmar military issued a warrant for her arrest after she spoke out against the junta while on the stage as one of the 20 finalists in the Miss Grand International beauty pageant.
A security source told the Bangkok Post that Thaw Nandar Aung, also known as Han Lay, will leave Thailand on Korean Air flight KE652 on Tuesday.
The Miss Grand International Myanmar 2020 will stop over at South Korea’s Incheon airport for a quick transit before leaving on flight KE073 bound for Toronto, Canada on Tuesday night.
It was reported that Han Lay applied for asylum with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Thailand after she was denied entry upon returning from Danang in Vietnam last week.
Han Lay was denied entry under Section 12 of the 1979 Immigration Act after an immigration officer spotted an irregularity with her passport, according to authorities at the time.
A source said Myanmar’s military junta may have revoked Han Lay’s passport.
