The five, calling themselves Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors, were subsequently given a safe passage to the border area with Deputy Foreign minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra offering himself as a surrogate hostage to guarantee their safety. The spot where the five vanished into the wilderness was believed to be near Ban Tako Lang. According to Watchara, shortly after the deputy foreign minister and the rebels left the area, the Army launched a search throughout the entire village and coincidentally founded a truck loading 40 sacks of rice in front of a church. Since then, he added, the village had come under close watch from all security agencies and was implicitly branded as a supply route for the God Army and the five Burmese fugitives. At times, the Army would come in and round up people and herd them towards the border, he said.
Villagers here live in fear.
He said those who were caught were sent to Sangklaburi in Kanehanaburi province before being taken to the border. During the registration process at the border, an officer came over and asked who would like to go back home. Those who could afford to pay the bribe were transported back to their homes while those who could not pay would be banished from the country, he added. Chidchai Wansathit who said he did not believe immigration police were implicated in unlawful acts. He said it anyone could be disguised as police officers to extort money from people.