ID :
96736
Fri, 12/25/2009 - 11:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/96736
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Thai PM quiets concerns on Hmong repatriation
BANGKOK, Dec 25 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday allayed international concerns on the repatriation of 4,200 ethnic Hmong to Laos with an assurance that the government has measures to ensure human rights protection in the deportation process.
Declining to say if the deportation would be completed soon as planned, the premier said it would depend on the procedures to be executed by government agencies concerned.
He assured that Thailand would abide by the law and the repatriation measures would not violate human rights.
Acting US State Department spokesman Mark Toner was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying in a statement that the US was deeply concerned about reports of the imminent and involuntary deportation by Thai authorities of 4,200 ethnic Lao Hmong to Laos.
The statement comes after nine US senators wrote last week to Prime Minister Abhisit to protest the possible expulsion of the Hmong.
AFP also quotes a statement of the head of the UN refugee agency Antonio Guterres who urged Thailand to call off the plans, saying Thailand has the responsibility and international obligation to ensure that any return of recognised refugees or other persons in needs of international protection is undertaken on a strictly voluntary
basis.
Mr Abhisit earlier affirmed that Thailand would do everything in accordance with the law and bear in mind the human rights principles.
Thailand has repatriated 17 groups of Hmong to Laos and has so far returned 3,059 persons from the ethnic minority group to their homeland to date and over 4,000 of ethnic Hmong in Phetchabun and Nong Khai who are under the care of the Thai government.
The premier said Thailand has clear principles on the matter and would have no problem to clarifiy the issue to the international community.
Many men among the Hmong helped the US as soldiers fighting against the Communist Pathet Lao (Lao Peoples' Army) during the Indochina War in the 1960s and 1970s.
After the Communist victory, many Hmong fled their places of birth and settled in the US and other western countries, while many remain in Thailand and are reluctant to return to their homeland for fear that the Lao government might persecute them. (TNA)
Declining to say if the deportation would be completed soon as planned, the premier said it would depend on the procedures to be executed by government agencies concerned.
He assured that Thailand would abide by the law and the repatriation measures would not violate human rights.
Acting US State Department spokesman Mark Toner was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying in a statement that the US was deeply concerned about reports of the imminent and involuntary deportation by Thai authorities of 4,200 ethnic Lao Hmong to Laos.
The statement comes after nine US senators wrote last week to Prime Minister Abhisit to protest the possible expulsion of the Hmong.
AFP also quotes a statement of the head of the UN refugee agency Antonio Guterres who urged Thailand to call off the plans, saying Thailand has the responsibility and international obligation to ensure that any return of recognised refugees or other persons in needs of international protection is undertaken on a strictly voluntary
basis.
Mr Abhisit earlier affirmed that Thailand would do everything in accordance with the law and bear in mind the human rights principles.
Thailand has repatriated 17 groups of Hmong to Laos and has so far returned 3,059 persons from the ethnic minority group to their homeland to date and over 4,000 of ethnic Hmong in Phetchabun and Nong Khai who are under the care of the Thai government.
The premier said Thailand has clear principles on the matter and would have no problem to clarifiy the issue to the international community.
Many men among the Hmong helped the US as soldiers fighting against the Communist Pathet Lao (Lao Peoples' Army) during the Indochina War in the 1960s and 1970s.
After the Communist victory, many Hmong fled their places of birth and settled in the US and other western countries, while many remain in Thailand and are reluctant to return to their homeland for fear that the Lao government might persecute them. (TNA)
