persons have been
provinces bordering
placed under temporary supervision in the
Laos awaiting repatriation. It is to be
the
regretted that the Laotian Government declines to carry out
agreement which it has made with UNHCR, refuses to take back even
one of its own people. Such being the case, we have no recourse
but to resort to the strict enforcement of Our immigration
which means that we have to send these persons back home openly.
have been given to the responsible authorities
Instructions
carry this out.
laws
to
In my position of responsibility for displaced persons, I wish to
take
this
opportunity to emphasise the Government's
this matter once again, and that i5,
policy On
Thailand will give
assistance to refugees in accordance with humanitarian principles
SO
iong
national
temporary
sovereignty.
as it does not adversely affect Thai
security and national interests, and
will provide
shelter
the
voluntary repatriation plan.
•
have.
policy any
while the refugees await transfer tc
settlement in third countries or return to their homeland under
The Thai Government does not
for refugees to have
residence permanent
1 m
Thailand.
Come on!
I
to their new environment.
7
accepted
Ev
have understand that several countries which fully
refugees for resettlement have faced domestic problems caused
unemployment or political issues or adaptation by the refugees
However we have to point out that
these countries are industrialised and economically stable, with
abundant resources to be used to solve the countries problems,
while small developing countries like Thailand have to face
numerous problems with limited resources for use in helping sol ve
the problems. Therefore, I have to mention that resettlement
alone cannot provide a permanent solution to the problem of
1
the
-.400