Would-be citizens block road in protest

The group was travelling on seven buses to attend a discussion today on applying for Thai citizenship, but soldiers manning the Pak Son checkpoint on the Ranong-Lang Suan section would not let them pass.

The group then sealed off a road near the checkpoint, causing hours of traffic jams. The protest continued into the night, but the road was clear for vehicles to pass through.

The leader, identified only as Farida, said the group's members had Thai identification cards with numbers starting with "0", meaning their citizenship was pending the verification process, and they should be able to move around freely.

But the troops treated them worse than Burmese migrant workers, who just presented their red passports to go anywhere in Thailand, she said.

About 3,000 people are waiting for verification in Ranong, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phang Nga and Tak. In 2002, these people established a network and pushed a Thai citizenship bill, which is now under Parliament's consideration, she said.

Captain Surasak Pheungyaem, head of a task force from the 25th Infantry Regiment, said the law stated that those awaiting verification must obtain permission from the district chief and governor and the group couldn't show such documents to the soldiers.