STATELESS TIP VICTIMS TO BE REPATRIATED TO THAILAND AFTER

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002418 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN KCRM ELAB PHUM PREL TH HUMAN RIGHTS SUBJECT: STATELESS TIP VICTIMS TO BE REPATRIATED TO THAILAND AFTER 14 MONTH DETENTION REF: Bangkok 2291 ¶1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General of American and Pacific Affairs, Nongnuth Phetcharatana called Charg this morning, April 26, to report that the Minister of Interior signed an order yesterday evening to repatriate the remaining six Shan hill tribe TIP victims detained in Malaysia. The MFA also issued an instruction to the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to start repatriation immediately. Remaining tasks are to secure approval from the Malaysian government to release the detainees and to purchase flight tickets. ¶2. DPM Surakiart Sathirathai intervened several times on this case, most recently during the last two weeks by raising the issue with Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana. Prior concerns in the Interior Ministry about the legal validity of repatriating non-citizens to Thailand posed a stumbling block, resulting in the detention of these stateless hill tribe women since their February 2005 rescue from a Malaysian brothel. ¶3. As expected, the MFA is curious as to how this repatriation will affect Thailand's tier rating on the upcoming TIP report. LabOff was noncommittal on the issue, but thanked them for their work, which he assured them has resolved a longstanding concern about Thailand's perceived commitment to combat trafficking. Post will follow up as soon as the women have returned, and hopefully interview them personally on their experiences. ARVIZU