Paper-plane boy wins hearts, visa of a nation
Source: Agencies |
September 5, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A STATELESS boy who was born in Thailand to Myanmar migrants was granted a temporary passport in Bangkok yesterday so he can represent the kingdom at an origami competition in Japan with paper planes that can fly for 12 seconds at a time.
Mong Thongdee, 12, captured the hearts of many Thais with his distraught plea, broadcast nationwide, to be allowed to compete, and unwittingly drew attention to the plight of nearly half a million stateless people in Thailand who cannot legally leave and return to the country.
TV stations showed him sobbing quietly after the Interior Ministry initially denied his request on Wednesday.
The next day, Mong was ushered into parliament for a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who promised the paper-folding champion that he would be granted temporary travel papers.
Yesterday Mong received a travel document for non-citizens, valid for one entry, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Vimon Kidchob.
Mong Thongdee, 12, captured the hearts of many Thais with his distraught plea, broadcast nationwide, to be allowed to compete, and unwittingly drew attention to the plight of nearly half a million stateless people in Thailand who cannot legally leave and return to the country.
TV stations showed him sobbing quietly after the Interior Ministry initially denied his request on Wednesday.
The next day, Mong was ushered into parliament for a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who promised the paper-folding champion that he would be granted temporary travel papers.
Yesterday Mong received a travel document for non-citizens, valid for one entry, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Vimon Kidchob.
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