ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

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