ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

By THE IRRAWADDY | More than 400 Burmese illegal migrants were arrested by Thai immigration authorities as they tried to attend a concert in Bangkok by the Burmese rock band Iron Cross.

Aung Myint Thein, of the Yaung Chi Oo Burmese Workers’ Association in Bangkok, said the arrests occurred on Sunday. The detained illegal immigrants would be deported to Burma, he said.

Thai immigration authorities checked not only Iron Cross fans on the way to the concert, in Bangkok’s Bahn Maw district, but also members of the band.

“They knew who we were but they took their time checking our passports,” said Iron Cross bass guitarist Khin Maung Thant.

Burmese rock star Lay Phyu and vocalists A Nge, Myo Gyi, Wine Wine, Sone Thin Par and Kyoe Kyar were on the concert program, which attracted an audience of 1,500, mostly migrant workers, who paid 400 baht (11,000 kyat) for a ticket.