Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK6470
2006-10-25 08:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

Tags:  PREF PREL PHUM TH KN KS 
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DE RUEHBK #6470 2980847
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 250847Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2499
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3120
RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 1761
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2261
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 2780
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1729
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006470 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM TH KN KS
SUBJECT: ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

REF: BANGKOK 5157

Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, Reason 1.4
(B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006470

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM TH KN KS
SUBJECT: ARREST OF NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

REF: BANGKOK 5157

Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, Reason 1.4
(B,D).


1. (C) On October 24, 83 North Korean asylum seekers were
picked up by Thai immigration officers in an apartment
building in the northern Bangkok suburb of Pathum Thani. A
South Korean NGO was taking care of them in that facility. A
representative of the NGO was also taken into custody by the
police but released the same day after intervention by the
ROK Embassy. The group was taken to the Bangkok Immigration
Detention Center and later back to a local police station in
Pathum Thani. A UNHCR representative said they will likely
be charged with illegal entry into Thailand. Their cases are
expected to be heard on October 25. UNHCR thinks the group
will be fined and since they do not have any funds, will work
off the fine through a jail term of 30 days. UNHCR reported
that there were a number of South Korean and Japanese media
who took photographs of the group at the local police
station.


2. (C) Similar to the case of the 175 North Koreans who were
picked up by Thai police in late August (reftel) UNHCR
believes that this new group will be resettled to South Korea
after serving jail time. UNHCR says that none in the group
has expressed interest at this time in U.S. resettlement.
UNHCR had issued person of concern letters to 20 in the
group. The others had not yet gone through the standard
UNHCR interview procedure for North Koreans but all had UNHCR
interview appointment slips.


3. (C) ROK Embassy Political Counselor Choi told Refcoord on
October 25 that the facility raided by Thai Immigration was
the new shelter established in the aftermath of the August
arrests. The number of refugees in the shelter was actually
92, but 8 had eluded the Thai. He stated that there were no
reports of the noise or disturbances that apparently led to
the August events. Choi said he expected that those arrested
would be allowed to resettle in the ROK after serving their
sentences. He described RTG policy toward North Korean
refugees as confused. The ROK Embassy thought it had a tacit
agreement with the Thai National Security Council (NSC) and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to run a shelter, in part
to alleviate crowding at Thai immigration detention
facilities. So the Thai Immigration action did not make
sense. Choi speculated that there might be divisions within
Thai Immigration over how to handle North Korean cases.
UNHCR told Refcoord on October 25 that both the NSC and MFA
expressed surprise at this latest development. They said the
timing in particular was poor given the larger nuclear issues
concerning the DPRK in recent weeks.


4. (C) Counselor Choi and UNHCR said the action by Thai
Immigration may be related to a recent unilateral decision by
that organization to require all refugees bound for
resettlement from Thailand, except those from the neighboring
countries of Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, to serve
some jail time or pay a fine before the issuance of necessary
exit permits. UNHCR stated that MFA was not pleased with
this policy change and there would be an RTG interagency
meeting on October 27 to discuss it. UNHCR said it would
weigh in with the RTG for the reversal of the policy shift.
Note: if the change is not reversed, it would also affect
refugees bound for U.S. resettlement.


5. (C) Embassy recommends press guidance similar to that used
on August 23 after the arrests of the first group.
BOYCE