VZCZCXRO0209
PP RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #6907 3192355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 152355Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2973
INFO RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE PRIORITY 2867
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2673
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1738

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006907 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PREL TH LA
SUBJECT: DEPORTATION OF 54 HMONG TO LAOS 
 
REF: STATE 186220 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Thai officials did not respond positively 
to reftel demarche expressing opposition to the possible 
deportation to Laos of a group of Hmong held in Thai 
detention in Nong Khai.  UNHCR told the RTG that is also 
opposes  deportation and warned of a formal protest and press 
reports if the RTG returns the Hmong to Laos.  UNHCR obtained 
informal information from an RTG source that the deportation 
took place on November 15 but MFA did not confirm the 
information.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Per reftel, on November 14 Refcoord delivered 
demarche regarding the possible deportation of 54 Hmong in 
Thai custody at Nong Khai to RTG Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Director Dusit Manapan.  Dusit responded that the Lao 
government had raised the issue of the Hmong at Petchaboon 
during the recent visit of Thai interim PM Surayud.  At that 
meeting, the two sides agreed that they would use the 
existing mechanism of the Thai-Lao Border Commission to 
address the Hmong issue.  Following that meeting, the Lao 
government had agreed to take back the Nong Khai group.  This 
was the first time, according to Dusit, that the Lao had 
agreed to do this. In response to Refcoord question regarding 
whether there was any Lao commitment that deportees would not 
be mistreated, Dusit said that he had told Thai Ministry of 
Interior and National Security Council officials that the 
safety of the deportees needed to be assured.  Otherwise, 
Thailand could be held accountable.  Dusit said he did not 
know if the Lao had made such a commitment. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In a previously scheduled meeting with new Thai NSC 
chief Prakit Prachonpachanuk on November 13, Political 
Counselor raised the Hmong issue and U.S. opposition to any 
deportation of persons who may have legitimate refugee 
claims.  While the RTG had a legitimate concern about 
protecting its borders, the earlier case of the deported 26 
Hmong minors had shown that the Lao government could view 
deportees as criminals and mistreat them.  The U.S. was very 
concerned about the group of Hmong at Nong Khai.  Recalling 
the international community's response to the Hmong minors 
case, Political Counselor urged Prakit to keep the larger 
picture in mind. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Prakit responded that Thailand has laws about 
illegal immigrants that the RTG must enforce.  The RTG wanted 
to deter those who are thinking about entering Thailand 
illegally and was tightening its border controls.  An NSC 
staff person also attending the meeting asked, "The Hmong 
keep coming.  What can we do?" 
 
¶5. (SBU) UNHCR acting Regional Representative Giuseppe de 
Vincentis told Refcoord on November 14 that UNHCR was aware 
of the possible deportation.  He had contacted the Thai MFA 
the same day and stated that the RTG had not granted access 
to UNHCR to interview the Hmong at Nong Khai.  The RTG also 
apparently did not have a commitment from the Lao government 
not to mistreat deportees.  De Vincentis said he told the MFA 
that the Lao government had not agreed to allow access in 
Laos by the international community to Hmong deported from 
Thailand.  De Vincentis said he told MFA that UNHCR may make 
a formal protest and there could be media questions that 
UNHCR would answer forthrightly.  De Vincentis noted that 
while the deportation of the Hmong minors was irregular, the 
planned deportation of the Hmong at Nong Khai was a formal 
bilateral arrangement between the Thai and Lao governments. 
 
¶6. (SBU) De Vincentis told RefCoord that Thai NSC staff said 
on November 15 that the Hmong deportation was scheduled for 
the same day but did not know if it had occurred.  Radio Free 
Asia is reporting that the deportation did happen.  While 
UNHCR was not able to get official confirmation from the MFA 
that the deportation occurred, it did get informal 
confirmation from another agency in the Thai government.  MFA 
did not return RefCoord telephone calls on this issue. 
BOYCE