Group of 10 goes for medical check-up and then disappears mysteriously

Eleven long-necked Padaung tribespeople have been kidnapped from Huai Seu Thao and Huai Pukaeng villages in Mae Hong Son, villagers tell police.

Huai Deu transport-boat cooperative official Ampol Oonjai told Ban Nam Piang Din police that a group had gone to the villages on Thursday to kidnap the tribespeople. Among those taken were women and children.

Villagers now fear for their safety and have asked police to find them.

Police inspector Lt-Col Worapoj Phutthawong says the 11 told relatives they were going with the group for medical checks at the province's Sri Sangwal Hospital, before disappearing some time between 10am and 3pm.

He does not think their disappearance is a kidnapping, because one of the 11 had earlier asked a sister if she wanted to accompany her to Chiang Mai. The woman declined.

He says there was a sighting of the missing tribespeople at a restaurant in Pai.

Greener pastures

Worapoj said two of the missing previously worked at a Chiang Mai resort before being sent home. He suspects the group has gone looking for better-paid employment.

Police have set up checkpoints on main roads heading to Chiang Mai.

Worapoj says there have been similar disappearances and allegations of human trafficking before. These have turned out not to be kidnappings.

Almost 550 Padaung tribespeople from Mae Hong Son's Nai Soi, Huai Seu Thao and Huai Pukaeng villages were moved to Huai Pukaeng village last year. Authorities built a school, clinic and other facilities for them there.

Worapoj says the Padaung people are refugees from Burma and are restricted to special zones where they can earn money as tourist attractions. However, he says visitor numbers are down, thanks to competition from Padaung people living in Chiang Mai. The missing 11 may have travelled there for better jobs, he adds.