Myanmar beauty queen Han Lay flees to Canada following threats from the military junta. Read details here

Myanmar beauty queen Han Lay is facing threats from the ruling military regime in her home country. The Burmese beauty pageant titleholder, who had taken refuge in Thailand following threats, has fled to Canada to seek asylum.

Why is Han Lay facing threats from Myanmar military junta?

Han Lay hogged the limelight in 2021 when she gave an emotional speech at the Miss Grand International Myanmar competition finals. The beauty queen held a banner that read 'Pray for Myanmar' to raise awareness and draw attention to the atrocities carried out by Myanmar's military junta.
Following her speech, she started getting death threats and eventually decided not to return home after the beauty competition held in Thailand.

Why was Han Lay stranded in Thailand?

Han Lay left for a trip to Vietnam, and when she returned to Thailand, she started facing deportation threats from the junta officials. She was also stopped by Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport authorities, who said her passport had a problem.

However, as per the deputy chief of the immigration bureau of Thailand, Archayon Kraithong, she left for Canada, where she will seek political asylum. Amnesty International also tweeted in support of Han Lay.

FAQs

1. What was the achievement of Han Lay in the Miss Universe Myanmar competition held in 2020?
Ans. Han Lay finished second in the Miss Universe Myanmar 2020 on December 30.

2. how many dissidents the military junta of Myanmar has arrested?
Ans. About 16,000 people, including models, social media influencers, doctors, teachers, and politicians, have been arrested since the coup in Myanmar.