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Thai army deports Hmong to Laos Thai army deports Hmong to Laos
(about 4 hours later)
Thailand is deporting a group of about 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to communist Laos, despite international concerns for their safety. Thailand has removed about 4,000 ethnic Hmong from a northern refugee camp to deport them back to communist-ruled Laos, despite international criticism.
Thai officials said unarmed soldiers had begun to close a camp for Hmong in northern Phetchabun province. No violence was used as all of the Hmong were moved out of the camp in Phetchabun province, officials said.
Thailand describes them as economic migrants. The Hmong say they face persecution in Laos because they backed US forces during the Vietnam war.Thailand describes them as economic migrants. The Hmong say they face persecution in Laos because they backed US forces during the Vietnam war.
The United States has asked Thailand to immediately stop the operation. The United Nations urged Thailand to stop the deportations.
The UN urged the Thais to call off plans to deport them. Col Thana Charuvat, who is co-ordinating the repatriation, said about 5,000 soldiers, officials and civilian volunteers had entered the camp in Huay Nam Khao village late on Monday morning.
Principles By late afternoon, the last of the Hmong had been driven from the camp in army trucks to buses that were waiting to take them to the border with Laos.
"The United States strongly urges Thai authorities to suspend this operation," said the US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly. "There was no resistance from the repatriated Hmong because we used psychological tactics to talk with them, to assure them that they will have a better life in Laos as the Lao government has confirmed," Col Thana said.
"We also urge the Lao People's Democratic Republic to treat humanely any Lao Hmong who are involuntarily returned, to provide access for international monitors, and facilitate resettlement opportunities for any eligible returnee," he said. Possible threats
No journalists were allowed into the camp during the operation, which went ahead despite calls from the UN, the US and several European nations to halt the deportations.
"We also urge the Lao People's Democratic Republic to treat humanely any Lao Hmong who are involuntarily returned, to provide access for international monitors, and facilitate resettlement opportunities for any eligible returnee," said the US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.
He noted that both the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Royal Thai Government have deemed many of the Hmong in need of protection because of the threats they might face in Laos.He noted that both the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Royal Thai Government have deemed many of the Hmong in need of protection because of the threats they might face in Laos.
"We deeply regret this serious violation of the international humanitarian principles that Thailand has long been known for championing," Mr Kelly said.
Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn told the BBC that officials had concerns for about 100 of those being deported.Thai government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn told the BBC that officials had concerns for about 100 of those being deported.
But Thailand had been assured that those people would be pardoned on their return to Laos, he added.But Thailand had been assured that those people would be pardoned on their return to Laos, he added.
Expectations
Col Thana Charuvat, who is co-ordinating the repatriation, said about 5,000 soldiers, officials and civilian volunteers had entered the camp in Huay Nam Khao village late on Monday morning.
"The operation started at 0530 (2230 GMT Sunday)," he told reporters. "The operation is expected to take one day."
The Hmong fear persecution if they are sent back
He said the soldiers were unarmed although equipped with shields and batons.
More than 2,000 Hmong had been removed from the camp by mid-afternoon, he said.
They were being taken to a nearby staging area where they would be put on buses which would take them to the Thai border town of Nong Khai and then across to Laos.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there had been no resistance among the camp residents to their deportation.
Journalists and other outside groups have not been allowed into the camp.
Sunai Phasuk, a Thai member of Human Rights Watch, said mobile phone signals inside the camp had been jammed so no-one could call out.
Hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled Laos after the communist Pathet Movement took power in 1975.Hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled Laos after the communist Pathet Movement took power in 1975.
Many have settled in the United States, Australia and other countries, but a sizeable population remains in Laos and complains of persecution from the authorities.Many have settled in the United States, Australia and other countries, but a sizeable population remains in Laos and complains of persecution from the authorities.
Some Hmong have been fighting a low-level insurgency against the government since 1975.Some Hmong have been fighting a low-level insurgency against the government since 1975.
Are you a member of the Hmong community? Do you know anyone in the Huay Nam Khao camp who is being deported? What do you think of the deportations?Are you a member of the Hmong community? Do you know anyone in the Huay Nam Khao camp who is being deported? What do you think of the deportations?
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