Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK1970
2006-04-03 09:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
UNHCR DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER MEETING WITH THAI
how-toVZCZCXRO0151 PP RUEHCHI DE RUEHBK #1970 0930945 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 030945Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7629 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 5437 RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 3865 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0558 RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 1264 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2370 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 2108 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0799 RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 1996 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1613 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1616 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5078
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001970
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PREF KCRM TH LA
SUBJECT: UNHCR DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER MEETING WITH THAI
ON MISSING HMONG MINORS
REF: VIENTIANE 298
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH BOYCE, REASON 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001970
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PREF KCRM TH LA
SUBJECT: UNHCR DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER MEETING WITH THAI
ON MISSING HMONG MINORS
REF: VIENTIANE 298
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH BOYCE, REASON 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Visiting UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Wendy
Chamberlin briefed Ambassador on her March 31 meeting with
Thai National Security Council chief General Winai
Phattiyakul and MFA Permsec Krit Ganjana-Goonchorn regarding
the missing Hmong minors. Following up on her March 29
meetings with Lao officials (reftel),Chamberlin's objective
with the Thai was to encourage them to meet the Lao request
for an "explanation" of the minors' deportation to Laos in
December as a means to reunite the minors with their parents
in Thailand.
2. (C) Chamberlin reported to Ambassador that she had
suggested to Winai and Krit that the Thai call in the Lao
Ambassador and provide the explanation and double track that
with a call by the Thai Ambassador in Vientiane on the Lao
Foreign Ministry. Krit expressed nervousness about including
as part of an explanation that the Thai had made a mistake in
deporting the minors. He said that if the Lao had harmed the
minors, they could claim that the injuries had come during
the deportation. According to Chamberlin, Krit also said
that the Thai had tried to discuss the issue with the Lao
earlier by sending the Thai Ambassador in to the Lao Foreign
Ministry. The Lao had rebuffed this effort by "berating" the
Thai Ambassador and not letting him deliver his message.
Winai also expressed skepticism that a Thai "explanation"
would work.
3. (C) Chamberlin said she responded to the Thai concerns by
saying the two sides should not get into a blame game. She
also argued that the situation had changed. Her visit
provided an occasion for the two sides to refocus on the
Hmong minors, the Lao were no longer insisting on a written
"explanation," and the recent conclusion of the Lao Party
Congress meant the Lao should now be able to address the
minors issue. It was important for the two sides to get
beyond the politics and work out a practical solution at the
working level.
4. (C) Chamberlin said that at the conclusion of the meeting,
Krit told her that he did not see a problem with giving the
Lao an oral explanation. He said he had the authority to do
it. He added that Winai,who departed early from the meeting,
would be all right with MFA delivering an explanation. In
response to a question from Chamberlin, Krit said there was
no need for the Ambassador to get involved at this stage.
5. (U) Post will follow up with the Thai on this issue.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR RMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PREF KCRM TH LA
SUBJECT: UNHCR DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER MEETING WITH THAI
ON MISSING HMONG MINORS
REF: VIENTIANE 298
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH BOYCE, REASON 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Visiting UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Wendy
Chamberlin briefed Ambassador on her March 31 meeting with
Thai National Security Council chief General Winai
Phattiyakul and MFA Permsec Krit Ganjana-Goonchorn regarding
the missing Hmong minors. Following up on her March 29
meetings with Lao officials (reftel),Chamberlin's objective
with the Thai was to encourage them to meet the Lao request
for an "explanation" of the minors' deportation to Laos in
December as a means to reunite the minors with their parents
in Thailand.
2. (C) Chamberlin reported to Ambassador that she had
suggested to Winai and Krit that the Thai call in the Lao
Ambassador and provide the explanation and double track that
with a call by the Thai Ambassador in Vientiane on the Lao
Foreign Ministry. Krit expressed nervousness about including
as part of an explanation that the Thai had made a mistake in
deporting the minors. He said that if the Lao had harmed the
minors, they could claim that the injuries had come during
the deportation. According to Chamberlin, Krit also said
that the Thai had tried to discuss the issue with the Lao
earlier by sending the Thai Ambassador in to the Lao Foreign
Ministry. The Lao had rebuffed this effort by "berating" the
Thai Ambassador and not letting him deliver his message.
Winai also expressed skepticism that a Thai "explanation"
would work.
3. (C) Chamberlin said she responded to the Thai concerns by
saying the two sides should not get into a blame game. She
also argued that the situation had changed. Her visit
provided an occasion for the two sides to refocus on the
Hmong minors, the Lao were no longer insisting on a written
"explanation," and the recent conclusion of the Lao Party
Congress meant the Lao should now be able to address the
minors issue. It was important for the two sides to get
beyond the politics and work out a practical solution at the
working level.
4. (C) Chamberlin said that at the conclusion of the meeting,
Krit told her that he did not see a problem with giving the
Lao an oral explanation. He said he had the authority to do
it. He added that Winai,who departed early from the meeting,
would be all right with MFA delivering an explanation. In
response to a question from Chamberlin, Krit said there was
no need for the Ambassador to get involved at this stage.
5. (U) Post will follow up with the Thai on this issue.
BOYCE