Mae Sai police arrested 29 Burmese children aged five to 13 who were being transported to Chiang Rai yesterday morning.

Despite claims they were on their way to school in Ayutthaya, police are investigating whether this was an attempt to recruit allies by insurgents or part of a trafficking operation. A 12-year-old girl identified as Na said that she and eight friends were invited to study two years ago at Wat Bang Ploeng School in Ayutthaya for free.

Na said she had returned to Burma because her teachers asked her to invite more children to join the school. She had brought 28 children aboard two public trucks, hired at Bt800 each, to go to Chiang Rai's bus terminal. Police charged the children with illegal entry and two truck drivers with assisting illegal immigrants.

Mae Sai superintendent Colonel Thewthawat Nakhon-sri said police were suspicious and that if the school in question really wanted to educate the children, it should have a proper permit.