THAI GOVERNMENT LETTER APPROVING U.S. RESETTLEMENT

UNCLAS BANGKOK 004508

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL TH BURMA
SUBJECT: THAI GOVERNMENT LETTER APPROVING U.S. RESETTLEMENT
PROGRAM IN BURMA BORDER CAMPS


1. On July 8, Embassy received a letter from General Winai
Phattiyakul, Secretary-General of the Thai National Security
Council, which gives formal Thai government approval for the
USG to undertake resettlement from the Thai-Burma border
refugee camps. This letter responds to a May 2, 2005 letter
from PRM DAS Kelly Ryan proposing such a resettlement
program. Original of Winai letter will be sent to DAS Ryan.


2. Text of Winai letter follows:

No. 0803/4779

Office of the National Security Council
Government House
Bangkok 10300

July 6, 2005

Dear Ms. Ryan,

Reference is made to your letter dated 2nd May 2005
concerning the United States Government's decision on the
expanding its assistance to Myanmar displaced people residing
in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border. In this
regard, a case raised during our last meeting concerning the
beginning of the resettlement process of Myanmar displaced
people at Tham Hin shelter, Ratchaburi province, would be a
great initiative. I would like to inform you that the Royal
Thai Government has agreed upon your proposal mentioned above
and will make a cooperative effort to facilitate such
resettlement program. In this respect, the first necessary
process, which is needed to be completed, is that concerned
Thai authority along with the UNHCR will work on the
registration of those who reside in Tham Hin shelter. I am
quite certain that our effort would yield a satisfactory
outcome as it has been in the case of Wat Tham Krabok program
and I hope our cooperation efforts in working on issues of
Myanmar displaced people would be tremendously successful as
good as ever.

The Royal Thai Government has always firmly complied with
humanitarian principle in assisting Myanmar displaced people
for over 20 years. As long as the concept of responsibilty
sharing concerned, we would be able to assist most of these
unfortunate individuals to have a better live and future. As
you are well aware of, the Royal Thai Government has taken an
initiative toward improving education system in all the
shelters as well as engaging in providing appropriate
vocational trainings. I, again, would like to state that
expanding vocational training and resettlement programs are
our major policies dealing with displaced people issues and,
at the same time, we wish that we would be able to solve this
protraced refugee situation at the root cause, which will
lead to durable solutions in the near future.

Your kind cooperation and necessary arrangement on the matter
would be highly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,
General Winai Phattiyakul
Secretary General

SIPDIS

End letter text.
BOYCE