PALESTINIAN REFUGEES DETAINED IN LAOS FREED, SENT TO MALAYSIA

Bethlehem, 21 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/12 January 2015 (MINA) – The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Sunday that a group of Palestinian refugees detained in Laos after entering the country illegally have been released.

The Palestinians arrived in Laos after fleeing their refugee camps in Syria due to the war. After entering the country using fake passports, they were caught and detained for four months, the statement said, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki urged the Palestinian ambassador to Vietnam to work out an agreement with the Laos authorities to guarantee the release of the refugees.

The authorities have finally agreed to release them without forcing them to pay fines, but they had to leave the country immediately, the statement said.

The refugees have since arrived in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in coordination with Malaysian authorities.  (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)