Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK5157
2006-08-23 10:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS
how-toVZCZCXRO8453 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHGH DE RUEHBK #5157 2351007 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231007Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1122 INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2014 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2891 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1275 RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 2542 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0480 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0410 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2322 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 0331 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0060 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 3570
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005157
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL TH
SUBJECT: ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reasons 1.4 b an
d d
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005157
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL TH
SUBJECT: ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reasons 1.4 b an
d d
1. (C) Summary: On August 22, the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
detained 175 North Koreans after raiding a house run by a
South Korean church in Bangkok. Sixteen were subsequently
released. The remaining 159 will be charged with illegal
entry into Thailand and are currently being held at the
Immigration Detention Center (IDC) in Bangkok. RTG officials
have stated that they will hold these individuals in IDC "on
a humanitarian basis" until third country resettlement can be
arranged. End Summary.
2. (C) At approximately 20:00 local time on August 22, the
RTP raided a safe house run by a South Korean church in a
neighborhood near the ROK Embassy and detained 175 North
Koreans. The group was transported by bus to IDC at
approximately 02:00 local time on August 23 where they are
currently being held.
3. (C) UNHCR informs that approximately 95 percent of those
arrested were in possession of some form of UNHCR
documentation (Person of Concern letter or other).
Additionally, according to UNHCR sixteen (16) of those
detained had already been processed for resettlement to the
ROK and had received authorization from the RTG to depart
Thailand. Of this group, eight were due to depart on the
evening of August 22, and the remainder were due to depart in
the next several days. These 16 individuals were released
and UNHCR is in the process of rescheduling flights for the
eight who missed their flight last night.
4. (C) The remaining 159 North Koreans are still in custody
at IDC. They will be charged today with illegal entry into
Thailand. Conditions in IDC, though crowded, are adequate.
(Note: In addition to this group, there are 80 other North
Koreans currently being held in IDC pending third country
resettlement. End note.) UNHCR is confident that it will be
able to continue processing this group for resettlement to
third countries. To date, none of those arrested last night
has expressed a desire for resettlement to the United States.
5. (C) UNHCR Senior Policy Advisor in Thailand reported to
Poloff that, based on his conversation with officials from
the RTP and others in the RTG, the police raided the home
based on complaints from neighbors about noise and unusual
numbers of people coming and going from the house. He also
said that officials from both MFA and the ROK Embassy told
him that they had no advance knowledge of the raid and were
surprised by it.
6. (C) Comment: While the RTP maintains that it raided the
house in response to complaints filed by neighbors, this
incident will likely send a message to organizations engaged
in assisting North Korean in Thailand. Recent actions (and
inactions) by the RTG indicate growing unease with the number
of North Koreans entering Thailand to seek asylum. While it
appears that last night's arrest will not impede UNHCR's
ability to process these cases for resettlement, it will make
the waiting period for this group of North Koreans less
comfortable. End Comment.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL TH
SUBJECT: ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reasons 1.4 b an
d d
1. (C) Summary: On August 22, the Royal Thai Police (RTP)
detained 175 North Koreans after raiding a house run by a
South Korean church in Bangkok. Sixteen were subsequently
released. The remaining 159 will be charged with illegal
entry into Thailand and are currently being held at the
Immigration Detention Center (IDC) in Bangkok. RTG officials
have stated that they will hold these individuals in IDC "on
a humanitarian basis" until third country resettlement can be
arranged. End Summary.
2. (C) At approximately 20:00 local time on August 22, the
RTP raided a safe house run by a South Korean church in a
neighborhood near the ROK Embassy and detained 175 North
Koreans. The group was transported by bus to IDC at
approximately 02:00 local time on August 23 where they are
currently being held.
3. (C) UNHCR informs that approximately 95 percent of those
arrested were in possession of some form of UNHCR
documentation (Person of Concern letter or other).
Additionally, according to UNHCR sixteen (16) of those
detained had already been processed for resettlement to the
ROK and had received authorization from the RTG to depart
Thailand. Of this group, eight were due to depart on the
evening of August 22, and the remainder were due to depart in
the next several days. These 16 individuals were released
and UNHCR is in the process of rescheduling flights for the
eight who missed their flight last night.
4. (C) The remaining 159 North Koreans are still in custody
at IDC. They will be charged today with illegal entry into
Thailand. Conditions in IDC, though crowded, are adequate.
(Note: In addition to this group, there are 80 other North
Koreans currently being held in IDC pending third country
resettlement. End note.) UNHCR is confident that it will be
able to continue processing this group for resettlement to
third countries. To date, none of those arrested last night
has expressed a desire for resettlement to the United States.
5. (C) UNHCR Senior Policy Advisor in Thailand reported to
Poloff that, based on his conversation with officials from
the RTP and others in the RTG, the police raided the home
based on complaints from neighbors about noise and unusual
numbers of people coming and going from the house. He also
said that officials from both MFA and the ROK Embassy told
him that they had no advance knowledge of the raid and were
surprised by it.
6. (C) Comment: While the RTP maintains that it raided the
house in response to complaints filed by neighbors, this
incident will likely send a message to organizations engaged
in assisting North Korean in Thailand. Recent actions (and
inactions) by the RTG indicate growing unease with the number
of North Koreans entering Thailand to seek asylum. While it
appears that last night's arrest will not impede UNHCR's
ability to process these cases for resettlement, it will make
the waiting period for this group of North Koreans less
comfortable. End Comment.
BOYCE