TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 204

CODE 18-77

AWO Ltd. 7/84

Mrs JD Wyeth

DRU, ODA

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference..

61....

Jene

THAILAND

37TH EXCOM GENEVA 6-16 OCTOBER 1986

1.

Thank you for your minute and enclosures of 24 July.

2. I have had a chance to consult posts on the points you raise and enclose a helpful memorandum prepared by David Wyatt in Bangkok, which gives detailed replies to the main areas of interest.

3. I would add one or two points. On your paragraph 3: Assistance Programmes, I note that David says that UNHCR does encourage self-sufficiency programmes in the camps. There is, of course, a danger that self-sufficiency programmes could lead to the refugees establishing themselves on a more permanent basis. There is also clearly a limit to which the Thais in this case would be happy with such a development.

On your paragraph 4: Co-ordination/Co-operation, I wonder whether Bangkok have not been rather too sanguine in their evaluation of the degree of co-ordination between UNHCR and other organisations active in Thailand. The point remains, however, that Mr Kunugi is fully aware of the need to co-ordinate the relief effort in Thailand and that great progress has been made.

On your paragraph 5: Information/Disaster Preparedness, I agree fully that the information we get on the situation in Thailand is excellent. I have far less idea of the details of UNHCR's activities in Cambodia and inside Laos. This may be simply that I have not fully caught up with past reports, but I suspect that there is some need for more extensive information on UNHCR activities in these two countries.

On your paragraph 7: Physical Security of Refugees, I think that the Bangkok memorandum does not bring out fully the fact that the poor discipline of the Thai Rangers and other Thai forces constitutes a separate security threat to the refugees. This is clearly a complicating factor in UNHCR's relationship with the Thais and makes it all the more apparent that they are working against the odds to provide full security in the camps. In the circumstances, I share Bangkok's feelings that they manage particularly well.

On your paragraph 8: Nature of Refugee Camps, I wonder a little at Bangkok's assessment that the camps in Thailand are not used for military or political purposes.

CONFIDENTIAL