Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK555
2006-01-30 11:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THAI AGREE TO TAKE BACK HMONG DEPORTEES

Tags:  PREF PREL TH LA 
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VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0555 0301111
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301111Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6003
INFO RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE IMMEDIATE 1601
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000555 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TH LA
SUBJECT: THAI AGREE TO TAKE BACK HMONG DEPORTEES

REF: A. STATE 13712

B. STATE 13706

C. VIENTIANE 91

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000555

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TH LA
SUBJECT: THAI AGREE TO TAKE BACK HMONG DEPORTEES

REF: A. STATE 13712

B. STATE 13706

C. VIENTIANE 91

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) Summary: NSC Secretary-General Winai Phattiyakul
told Ambassador on January 30 that Thailand would permit the
return of the 27 Hmong currently imprisoned in Laos. General
Winai reviewed with the Ambassador procedures that the Thai
side would find acceptable; all of these appear to us
consistent with the proposals already discussed between
Department and Embassy Vientiane. General Winai emphasized
the importance of resolving this as quietly as possible, and
even asked us not/not to discuss this with the Thai MFA,
which he warned might interfere and derail the plans. We
therefore recommend that the Department hold off making any
statement on this case and keep the details of the proposed
return close hold. end summary.


2. (C) NSC Secretary-General Winai Phattiyakul, following
several conversations over several days with the Ambassador,
agreed today that the Thai would permit the return of the "27
Hmong minors" in detention in Laos. (The group had been
returned to Laos on December 5 without coordination with the
Lao government, and were consequently being detained by the
Lao as "illegal aliens.") General Winai emphasized that this
return should take place quietly, and asked that post not
even discuss the procedures with the Thai MFA, who, he
warned, might intervene in a way that could block the
proposed resolution of the case.


3. (C) The plan proposed by NSC is consistent with the
procedures that have been discussed by the Department and
Embassy Vientiane. NSC understands that the Lao would turn
the group over to the US embassy in Vientiane. The embassy
would engage a bus to take the young people across the
bridge, arranging with the Lao authorities their departure
from Laos without emigration formalities (as they have no
travel documents). The NSC would have an official meet them
at the Thai immigration point; he would facilitate the
group's entry into Thailand and travel on to Phetchaboon.
(The NSC has confirmed with the local authorities there that
the families of the detainees are still in Phetchaboon.) The
young people would then be reunited with their families and
each family would return to wherever they have been staying
in the Phetchaboon area. General Winai says that he needs
about three days to get everything in place to receive the
group, and he will wait for our confirmation that the Lao
will follow through on their previous pledge to turn the
group over to the Embassy in Vientiane.


4. (C) Comment: This is a breakthrough, and is clearly the
best chance we have to resolve the situation of the
imprisoned young people. We hope that we can move quickly
and quietly to get these young people out of harm's way and
returned to their families. The Thai have made a
significant accommodation in response to our requests, taking
back a group of illegal immigrants and allowing the Lao
government essentially to veto any return of its own
citizens. We should meet their offer with an equal
willingness to make this plan work smoothly.



BOYCE