The Myanmar junta’s attempts to force foreign governments to send junta critic, model Han Lay, back to Myanmar against her will has attracted strong criticism from Human Rights Watch (HRW).

HRW Deputy Asia Director, Phil Robertson, said: "The rights abusing Myanmar military junta is playing games with people's lives, with a clear example being how it revokes or impedes the passports of its Burmese critics. “

Myanmar beauty queen Thaw Nandar Aung, better known as Han Lay provoked the ire of the junta when at the finals of the Miss Grand International Myanmar competition held in Thailand, in March 2021, she made an emotional speech to bring the world’s attention to the junta’s massacre of civilians and addressed the international community saying: “I want to say please help Myanmar, we need your help right now.”

Following her speech, Han Lay received death threats and decided to remain in Thailand.

Then, on Wednesday 21 September as she was returning to Thailand from a short trip to Vietnam she was stopped by Thai immigration at Suvarnhabhumi Airport.

She was not detained, but also she was not allowed to enter Thailand and obviously did not want to return to Myanmar so was left in limbo in the airport. According to a Facebook post from Han Lay whilst she was at the airport Burmese officials were waiting at Suvarnhabhumi to speak to her and trying to have her repatriated to Myanmar.

There was some confusion about why Han Lay was stopped in Bangkok. Initially, it was said that an Interpol Red Notice had been issued against Han Lay, but now it seems that the Myanmar authorities cancelled her passport.

Police Maj. Gen. Archayon Kraithong, the deputy chief of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau, told CNN Han Lay had been stopped due to a problem with her passport and that she could not be let into Thailand “due to immigration law”. He declined to give full details, but said she had not been arrested.

Whilst Han Lay was left in limbo at the airport UNHCR came to her aid and tried to assist her. Eventually, the organisation managed to help her find asylum in Canada.

On Wednesday 28 September Police Maj. Gen. Archayon Kraithong told CNN that Han Lay had left Bangkok on the evening of Tuesday 27 September and said “Her final destination is Canada,” but gave no further details.

HRW’s Phil Robertson issued a statement where he explained that the problems had been caused by the Myanmar junta canceling her passport and making her stateless, a tactic the junta has been using on dissidents abroad in an attempt to force them to return to Myanmar to face punishment.

He said: “Outspoken rights activist and model Thaw Nandar Aung (Han Lay) was the victim of a deliberate political act by the junta to make her stateless when she flew back from Vietnam to Thailand last week. All these polite, diplomatic mentions about a so-called "issue" with her passport cannot hide the fact her passport was fine to leave Thailand, and to enter and exit Vietnam, before she encountered a problem seeking to re-enter Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is hardly the first time repressive Burmese military dictatorships have sought to use their control over Myanmar passports as a weapon against their own people's rights to travel internationally. Such actions should be universally condemned, and governments around the world should be on guard against the junta using similar tactics against overseas dissidents traveling on Myanmar passports in the future."

"There is no doubt that what transpired was a trap to try to force Han Lay to return to Myanmar, where she would have faced immediate arrest, likely abuse in detention, and imprisonment. Fortunately, she got good advice to stay put at the airport, and wait for the kind of protection she needed. This was a victory for rights, and refugee protection."

Mr Robertson also praised the Canadian government for giving Han Lay asylum. He said: "Nations like Canada that stand up time and time again to help the globe's refugees fleeing persecution deserve the thanks of the wider world. Just as Ottawa stood up to assist Saudi national Rahaf Mohammed in her time of greatest need, so now they have again done the right thing to help Han Lay.

Miss Grand International contestant Han Lay. Photo: Miss Grand International