Myanmar model Han Lay who criticised junta barred from entering Thailand

The 23-year-old, who spent most of the past year in Thailand, was stopped on arrival because she was subject of an Interpol notice

Han Lay captured international attention in 2021 with a moving beauty pageant speech calling for help for Myanmar’s people during a military crackdown

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Myanmar model Han Lay. File photo: Reuters

Published: 8:00am, 23 Sep 2022

A Myanmar model who took refuge in Thailand after speaking out against a military coup in her homeland has been blocked from returning to Bangkok, Thai authorities said on Thursday, over what her manager said was an Interpol notice.

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 said. “She’s waiting for a solution on how she can stay in Thailand.”