THAILAND FORCIBLY RETURN PETCHABUN HMONG TO LAOS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003248 SIPDIS GENEVA FOR RMA DEPT FOR PRM/ANE AND PRM/A; EAP/MLS NSC FOR WALTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2019 TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL PHUM SMIG TH LA SUBJECT: THAILAND FORCIBLY RETURN PETCHABUN HMONG TO LAOS REF: A. BANGKOK 3247 (A/S SCHWARTZ WINS PROCESSING ACCESS) ¶B. VIENTIANE 375 (GOL POSTPONES PRM VISIT) ¶C. BANGKOK 3145 (THAILAND REFUGEE SITUATION) Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Thai government December 28 began forcibly returning Lao Hmong at Petchabun back to Laos in an operation anticipated to result in the return of all 4,351 Hmong from the Huay Nam Khao camp by the end of the day. There were no public or NGO reports of significant resistance or protests at the camp. Separately, USG officials were progressing December 28 towards completing all interviews with Hmong refugees at the Nong Khai Immigration Detention Center who were expected to be referred for resettlement to the U.S. after deportation to Laos. End summary. RTG RETURNS PETCHABUN HMONG TO LAOS -------------- ¶2. (U) The Thai government December 28 forcibly returned Hmong asylum-seekers at a military-run camp in Petchabun province to Laos. Colonel Thana Charuwat, Director of Security Operations for the Region Three Internal Security Operations Command, said publicly that the operation began at 0530 local time when approximately 5,000 soldiers, police officers, and civilian volunteers entered the camp at Huay Nam Khao in Petchabun to begin expelling the 4,351 Hmong held there. ¶3. (C) As of late afternoon, Colonel Thana confirmed to us that 3,716 Hmong had been transported from Huay Nam Khao, and all Hmong were expected to have been deported from the camp by the end of the day. Thana characterized the returns as "voluntary", but a Ministry of Interior official working with USG officials interviewing Hmong at the Nong Khai Immigration Center told us that a group of Hmong at Petchabun was protesting the return. According to the Interior Ministry official, those willing to return without putting up resistance were the first to be returned from the camp. A NGO associated with the Hmong told us that as of late afternoon December 28 they had not seen signs of injuries or duress among the Hmong who were being transported from the camp. ¶4. (C) Colonel Thana told us that the Hmong were transported from Huay Nam Khao to a government facility at Lom Sak in Petchabun for document processing, food, and monetary compensation before boarding chartered buses for the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai. ¶5. (U) Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said publicly December 28 that the deportation operation proceeded smoothly and argued that the RTG went forward with the decision to expel the Hmong after receiving assurances from the Lao Government that Hmong would be treated well. DHS INTERVIEWS PROCEED AT NONG KHAI IDC -------------- ¶5. (C) Following RTG agreement to provide access to Hmong held in the Nong Khai Immigration Detention Center (Ref A), Department of Homeland Security officers were December 28 interviewing nineteen cases held there who were expected to be referred for resettlement to the U.S. after deportation to Laos. The expected number of cases had been higher but several cases had earlier escaped from the IDC. All cases had received preliminary recommendations for approval, pending namechecks. Australian, Canadian, and Dutch officials were given access for interviewing December 28 as well. Indications are that the 158 Hmong held at Nong Khai will be returned to Laos as early as December 29. JOHN