Laos
6
CH006 &3
The outflow situation is somewhat unclear. Apparently as a result of the introduction of screening (and push backs), levels of departure have declined sharply. On the other hand, the high level of persons screened in (over 50%) may serve to prolong the outflow in the longer term. The likely effect of the current high level of resettlement activity is not yet clear. It is apparent that the outflow contains a high proportion of non-refugees and the rate of outflow is related to perceptions of the situation in Thailand, It is also apparent that a number of persons leaving Laos are motivated by the attractions of life in Thailand rather than further afield.
Once the resettlement countries have concluded their processing of cases of interest among Lao presently in Thailand, there will remain a large group whose only options should be clearly spelt out to be return to Laos for long term residence in Thailand.
Voluntary repatriation to Laos continues at low levels. The absence of evidence of reprisals against those who return, taken with the absence of any reports of repercussions for persons pushed back from the Thai border, indicates that the Lao authorities do not regard the act of illegal departure per se as warranting punishment.
The Thai authorities continue officially to rule out the possibility of local integration for the Lao in spite of almost universal assumptions that some form of local integration, particularly for the highland Lao, is inevitable in the long term. Given the attraction that Thailand itself has for the Lao and the potential for continued illegal immigration the Thai attitude is not surprising.
1
The introduction of Lao screening is a highly significant development. It represents the first open acknowledgement by all concerned, including UNHCR, that a proportion of the outflow from an Indochinese country is comprised of migrants who can be deported to their country of origin following a rejection of any claims they may make to refugee status. Acceptance by Laos of those screened out would similarly indicate an acknowledgement by a country of origin that an attempt to emigrate illegally to another country can be treated purely as a migration rather than a political matter.
The importance of these principles makes it all the more disappointing that the return of those screened out has not occurred and underlines the importance of ensuring that the screening operation is fully implemented.