Tamil detainees not terrorists, police say

A group of arrested Sri Lankans are just illegal immigrants seeking jobs in Thailand, and have nothing to do with the now-defunct terror separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a police spokesman said yesterday.

The 51 Sri Lankans, including women and children who were apprehended at four apartments in Soi Phaholyothin , had just stopped over in Thailand for onward travel to Canada, said Pol Maj-General Prawuth Thawornsiri.

"They pose no threat to national security, or have any links to any terrorist groups," he said.

However, verification is underway to identify the 51 people who will be repatriated after brief detention at the immigration police compound. Initially 36 were found to have overstayed their visas.

He said yesterday's arrests were conducted in cooperation with the Sri Lankan government which is now going after LTTE members reportedly attempting to revive their operation after the government crackdown in May 2009.