Young Cambodian under mortar of deportation controversy

In the northeastern province of Thailand, a 13-year-old Cambodian boy, who has grown up in Surin province, found himself at the centre of a heated debate after being arrested for being in Thailand illegally along with his mother.

The boy, an outstanding student at Buachet Wittaya School, is known for his high grades, musical abilities, and prowess in sports. However, his life took a dramatic turn when the local police, without a warrant, arrested him and his mother at the school after the national anthem singing in the morning.

The mother, who entered Thailand near Chong Sa Ngam in Si Sa Ket in 2018, admitted that she had sneaked into the country because she could not find work in Cambodia. The boy, who does not speak or read Khmer, has not been back to Cambodia since he came to Thailand with his mother.

The arrest has sparked a wave of protests from human rights organizations and local activists, who are leading efforts to prevent the deportation of the boy and his mother. The Department of Children and Youth has asked the Immigration Bureau to suspend the deportation, citing the boy's age and his status as a student.

Jessada Denduangboripant, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, has called on the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to act on the case, in line with rule No. 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Angkhana Neelapajit, a former commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, stated that arresting a child under the Immigration Act was inappropriate since the boy did not enter Thailand illegally by himself but followed his mother.

Prinya Thaewanarunmitkul, a lawyer and human rights activist, has raised concerns that the arrest may have violated Section 22 of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, as well as the Criminal Procedure Code.

The authorities are currently deciding the next legal steps for the mother and son. The mother has agreed to go to Cambodia to fill out the proper documentation to return to Thailand legally. The time it will take for the mother to complete the documentation is not known.

In the meantime, the boy and his mother are staying at a checkpoint in Sa Kaeo. Before being detained at the Kap Choeng border crossing, the boy was made to change out of his Thai scout uniform.

The arrest of the boy and his mother has raised questions about the treatment of undocumented migrants in Thailand and the rights of children in such situations. The case continues to be a topic of discussion among human rights advocates and legal experts.