Origamiplane boy issued special Thai travel document

"The visa requires him to return to Thailand within three months," said Consular Affairs Department deputy directorgeneral Madurapochana Ittarong. "But the passport is valid for one year."

She handed the travel document with the visa stamp in it to Mong yesterday.

"I'm so glad," the boy said.

Born in Thailand 12 years ago, Mong needed the document for his trip to Japan, where he was invited to attend an upcoming origamiaeroplane contest there.

Mong's desperate plea for a passport caught the media's attention this week.

The boy has called on various authorities, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in a bid to get the document.

Because Mong does not hold Thai nationality, the Interior Ministry was initially reluctant to support his request.

The Foreign Ministry told the boy that Interior Ministry approval was necessary. That ministry's initial refusal from the Interior Ministry prompted the Lawyers Council of Thailand to help Mong lodge a complaint against Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul with the Administrative Court.

However, the Interior Ministry on Thursday agreed to support Mong's request for the travel document, and the complaint against Chaovarat was withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Abhisit said he had instructed the National Security Council to find ways of tackling problems involving aliens' nationality.

"There are many children like Mong - born in Thailand and attending Thai schools. Since they are part of Thai society, they should be taken care of," he said.

However, the premier said authorities must exercise caution, because many other aliens had sneaked into Thailand and engaged in illegal activities.