TNAG-1529-FCO40-2093-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 116

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