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