Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK7418
2006-12-14 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

PRM ADMISSIONS OFFICE DIRECTOR MEETINGS IN BANGKOK

Tags:  PREF PREL TH KN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #7418/01 3480953
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 140953Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3447
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2471
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007418 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TH KN
SUBJECT: PRM ADMISSIONS OFFICE DIRECTOR MEETINGS IN BANGKOK


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007418

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREF PREL TH KN
SUBJECT: PRM ADMISSIONS OFFICE DIRECTOR MEETINGS IN BANGKOK


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) Summary. End summary.


2. (C) During a December 4-8 visit to Bangkok, PRM Office of
Admissions Director Terry Rusch met with DHS, UNHCR, CDC,
IOM, and ROK Embassy officials to discuss refugee issues.
She discussed current refugee processing issues with Overseas
Processing Entity (OPE) staff and toured the OPE facility.
She also met with the Thai Ministry of Interior and with
North Korean refugees at two facilities.

--------------
Meeting with Ministry of Interior
--------------


3. (U) In a December 7 meeting with Ministry of Interior
(MOI) Deputy Permanent Secretary Priraphol Tritasavit, Rusch
described how large-scale U.S. refugee resettlement
processing in Asia was now focused on Thailand. She
expressed appreciation for RTG assistance on Burmese refugee
processing and said that the USG hoped to resettle about
15,000 refugees from Thailand during the current fiscal year.
She provided the current state of play on the material
support issue. Rusch requested that the RTG create a
streamlined and predictable mechanism for the issuance of
exit permits for U.S. refugee family reunification cases
(Visas 93 and P3 cases). She noted that the U.S. had a
backlog of such cases that numbered about 50 persons. This
number would only grow larger in the future as U.S refugee
processing of Burmese accelerated.


4. (C) Rusch stated that the U.S. wanted to process the small
number of North Korean refugees in Thailand who indicated
interest in U.S. resettlement. She said the USG hoped the
RTG would allow processing of additional North Korean cases.
The USG was committed to discreet handling of such cases
though it could not control all the actors, such as NGOs,
involved in the North Korea refugee issue. The USG believed
that the estimates of large numbers of North Koreans in China
were too high. Rusch said that it was important that North
Korean refugees have accurate information about the U.S.
refugee program. To this end, she said she had met with two
groups of North Korean refugees in Bangkok.


5. (C) Priraphol noted the points about North Korean refugees

but did not respond substantively. He noted that the MOI was
limited in what it could do on exit permits for family
reunification cases. The Thai National Security Council set
guidelines that MOI had to work within. While it was
possible to get exit permits for special humanitarian cases
in certain instances, the number of such cases would be
limited. It was important, therefore, to put in place a
formal mechanism for the handling of such cases. Priraphol
recommended that lists of family reunification cases be
presented to MOI in Bangkok. MOI would then work with
provincial governors to set up meetings of the local
Provincial Admissions Boards (PABs). The PABs would screen
the cases, and if they were approved, this would open the way
for exit permits and departures of the family reunification
cases.

--------------
Meetings with North Korean Refugees
--------------


6. (C) Rusch visited the Thai immigration detention Center
(IDC) on December 6 with the local head of the Jesuit Refugee
Service (JRS) Tom Coughlin, Deputy Refugee Coordinator
Jessica Adler and Embassy spouse interpreter Nancy Porter to
observe conditions for North Korean refugees at the
Immigration Detention Center (IDC). JRS is the only NGO with
RTG permission to provide detainees at the IDC with medical
assistance. JRS reported overcrowding almost three times
IDC,s normal capacity. With recent Thai police raids on the
South Korean shelter for North Koreans, there are currently
207 North Koreans detained at the center, of which 25 have
expressed interest in resettlement to the U.S. Although each
room were at maximum capacity, the delegation observed that
NK detainees had access to toilet and shower facilities; one
NK woman was in the process of dyeing her hair. In general,
the NKs appeared to be adequately cared for by JRS and the
RTG. NGO food vendors were even allowed to sell food to
detainees.


7. (U) Rusch met with the North Koreans at the IDC and at the
Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) who are interested
in U.S. resettlement and to clarify misunderstandings about
the U.S. refugee program. In both town-hall-like meetings,
the refugees asked for absolute guarantees that they will be
accepted into the USG program and repeatedly asked about the
speed of USG processing. One woman at the IDC reported her
understanding from various media articles that the USG is
obligated to accept every North Korean refugee. Rusch stated
that the USG is committed to assisting North Korean refugees
but the Act does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Rusch then described the current state of USG processing of
North Koreans in Thailand and reiterated the uncertainty of
receiving additional RTG permission to process additional
cases. Rusch stated that the information provided was meant
to help the refugees better decide between going to the ROK
or to the U.S.


8. (U) Comment: It was evident from meetings at the IDC and
YWCA that there exists many misconceptions and
misunderstandings regarding the U.S.Resettlement Program
(USRP) among the North Korean refugees. Some factors
attributing to this is misinformation stems from the media,
internet, non-governmental organizations and missionary
groups with interests in moving North Koreans to the ROK or
another third country such as the U.S. More information
campaign concerning the USRP is required in order to reduce
NK misconceptions and assist them to make an informed
decision to either resettle in ROK or the U.S.
HANSEN