December 25, 2009
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand insisted Friday it will stand firm on sending than 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to communist Laos, despite strong calls from the United Nations and the United States to drop the plans.
"This is no other country's business -- it's between Thailand and Laos. Whatever two countries have agreed must be implemented," deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.
The neighbouring countries agreed that the group, held in northern Thailand, would be sent back by the end of the year.
The United States on Thursday urged Thailand to drop the plan, saying it was "deeply concerned about reports of the imminent and involuntary deportation" acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.
The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres also Thursday urged Thailand to call off the return.
"Thailand has the responsibility and international obligation to ensure that any return of recognised refugees or other persons in needs of international protection... is undertaken on a strictly voluntary basis," he said.
"To proceed otherwise would not only endanger the protection of the refugees but set a very grave international example," said a statement.
The group are seeking political asylum based on claims they face persecution from the Laotian regime because they fought alongside US forces during the Vietnam War.
Thailand says they are economic migrants and has refused access for the UNHCR to assess if any are in fact political refugees.
Nine US senators have written to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to protest the deportation and denounce the government's "lack of transparency" in screening the Hmong.
European diplomats have also met the government in recent days to express their concerns.
Although Thailand has said it would not use force to return the Hmong, there are reports the army has significantly boosted troop numbers in Phetchabun, further stoking fears Bangkok would abide by the December 31 deadline.
