BANGKOK— A Myanmar model and beauty pageant contestant has been denied entry into Thailand.

Han Lay, Miss Grand International Myanmar 2020, who spoke against the military coup at the pageant last year has been denied entry after arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Vietnam on Wednesday.

In a statement, Immigration Bureau denied the 23-year old Han Lay was detained.

It said Han Lay does not have a valid visa to enter Thailand, under Section 12 (1) of the Immigration Act.

“Arrangement has been made with airlines for her to board a flight out of Thailand,” the bureau said in a statement.

Bangkok Post reported that Nawat Itsaragrisil, the founder of the Miss Grand International pageant, as saying Han Lay has been staying in the transit area of the airport since Wednesday afternoon.

Han Lay, who made her way to the top 20 finalists at the Miss Grand International in Bangkok last year caught international attention when she called for urgent help for Myanmar’s people due to the military crackdown following the Feb 1, 2021 coup.

After videos of her talking about bloodshed back home went viral on social media, Miss Grand International management arranged for Han Lay to stay in Thailand for three months at its expense to ensure her safety.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK