ID :
97130
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 16:31
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http://m.oananews.org//node/97130
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Thai PM: Deportation of ethnic Hmong to Laos conducted without resistance
BANGKOK, Dec 28 (TNA) Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday reaffirmed that the repatriation process for more than 4,000 ethnic Hmong to Laos was carried out without resistance and that the Lao authorities have reasserted that they will have a better life in returning to their places of birth.
The premier commented as the second batch of the Hmong minority departees, some 366 persons, left Huay Nam Khao camp in the northern province of Phetchabun province for deportation to Laos, after the first group of 442 persons left before dawn.
The operation began at 5.30am with 5,000 unarmed Thai Army troops assisting the move.
The remaining 3,698 persons were expected to be deported within Monday.
Mr Abhisit reasserted that the deportation process has been conducted without any resistance from the Hmong as the Thai authorities have create good understanding to them.
Thailand also coordinated with Lao authorities and has been reaffirmed that the deported persons will be provided a better living condition there, including several thousands Hmong who had been earlier deported to the neighbouring country, said Mr Abhisit.
"Regarding 100 ethnic Hmong in Nong Khai province who have received refugee status," said the Thai premier. "The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has sent its representatives to interview them for deportation to a third country."
Mr Abhisit said Thailand has coordinated with the United States to directly contact the Lao government if it is willing to provide shelter to the Hmong as Vientiane would welcome such a request.
Meanwhile Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday that the deportation was carried out in accordance with an agreement between the governments of the two countries.
Thai Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said Thailand must complete the operation by December 31, 2009 as required in the agreement made by the two countries.
Gen Anupong said the Thai army has handled the matter gently without violence.
“If the deportation is not carried out, Thailand will face the problems of illegal entry to the kingdom and insufficient farming land," said Gen Anupong.
Thai authorities earlier indicated that a total of 4,506 Hmong are to be deported from the camp.
Thailand claims that most of the Hmong have no legitimate claim to refugee status, but are simply economic migrants who have entered the country illegally.
Many Hmong men helped the United States and Thailand 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)
The premier commented as the second batch of the Hmong minority departees, some 366 persons, left Huay Nam Khao camp in the northern province of Phetchabun province for deportation to Laos, after the first group of 442 persons left before dawn.
The operation began at 5.30am with 5,000 unarmed Thai Army troops assisting the move.
The remaining 3,698 persons were expected to be deported within Monday.
Mr Abhisit reasserted that the deportation process has been conducted without any resistance from the Hmong as the Thai authorities have create good understanding to them.
Thailand also coordinated with Lao authorities and has been reaffirmed that the deported persons will be provided a better living condition there, including several thousands Hmong who had been earlier deported to the neighbouring country, said Mr Abhisit.
"Regarding 100 ethnic Hmong in Nong Khai province who have received refugee status," said the Thai premier. "The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has sent its representatives to interview them for deportation to a third country."
Mr Abhisit said Thailand has coordinated with the United States to directly contact the Lao government if it is willing to provide shelter to the Hmong as Vientiane would welcome such a request.
Meanwhile Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday that the deportation was carried out in accordance with an agreement between the governments of the two countries.
Thai Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said Thailand must complete the operation by December 31, 2009 as required in the agreement made by the two countries.
Gen Anupong said the Thai army has handled the matter gently without violence.
“If the deportation is not carried out, Thailand will face the problems of illegal entry to the kingdom and insufficient farming land," said Gen Anupong.
Thai authorities earlier indicated that a total of 4,506 Hmong are to be deported from the camp.
Thailand claims that most of the Hmong have no legitimate claim to refugee status, but are simply economic migrants who have entered the country illegally.
Many Hmong men helped the United States and Thailand 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)
