The governor of Thailand’s central Ratchaburi Province yesterday denied that Myanmar refugees rounded up in Bangkok and sent to a temporary holding centre in the province were being placed in poor living conditions, saying that everything was in accordance with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) criteria.

Mr. Phalawat Chayanuwach said that the 400-plus Myanmar refugees in the Baan Tham Hin Centre were not experiencing any hardships as a result of the move, which was recently ordered by the government.

Designated by the UNHCR as ‘persons of concern’, the refugees are destined to eventually go on to third countries.

According to Mr. Phalawat, the government decided to move them from Bangkok to the border camp in order that they could all be present simultaneously for interviews aimed at determining their eventual countries of residence.