25 Dec, 2009, Thailand

The Fears are growing for safety of about 4,000 Hmong refugees, subject to deportation from Thailand within days. The head of the United Nations refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, has urged Thailand to call off its plan for sending the ethnic Hmong back to Laos. The United States has expressed concern and Amnesty International said that it was appalled by the deportation plan.

The Thai government says that it will act according to the law, and a deal with Laos to send them back by 31 December. In past week, the army has already sent dozens of trucks to the camp and thousands of soldiers.

The UN’s Mr. Guterres said that returning the refugees will not only endanger them but set a very grave example as, under the international law, refugees could not be forcibly returned to the countries that might persecute them. The Hmong, being held at a camp in the northern Phetchabun province, say that they face persecution in Laos as they fought on the side of the Americans during the Vietnam War.

The US has raised the issue many times with Bangkok; most recently was this week during the visit of a senior State Department official. Nine US senators have sent a letter to Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva to express concern about the possible repatriation and criticize the government’s screening process to determine refugee status.