The Washington Post
Editorials
SOUTHEAST ASIA has witnessed more than its share of war and political violence in the past half-century. From the bloody conflict and communist repression in Vietnam, to the killing fields of Cambodia, to the various crackdowns in Burma, the region's woes have generated hundreds of thousands of refugees in need of haven and resettlement. Throughout that time, the most peaceful and politically open country in the area, Thailand, has generally made room for those fleeing persecution and danger.
Thailand's performance stands in contrast to that of other nearby states, such as China, which has frequently repatriated North Koreans escaping starvation and tyranny. Indeed, Beijing has pressured other countries to adopt a similarly ungenerous approach to those fleeing China's own internal repression: Just last week, the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen forcibly sent home 20 Uighur asylum seekers who fled after the July protests in Urumqi, China -- despite the fact that they had been issued "Persons of Concern" letters by the U.N. Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Cambodia.
Now there are signs that Thailand, too, may be turning its back on its international obligation not to expel legitimate refugees. The Hmong people of neighboring Laos have been targets going back to the days four decades ago when they fought alongside the United States against the communists who now run Laos. The United States has resettled many of them. But Thailand is moving to expel about 4,300 Hmong asylum seekers held within its territory. Not all of them necessarily merit protection under international law; clearly, though, many do. Among those reportedly at risk of deportation are 158 Hmong in detention in Nong Khai province who have been screened and granted U.N. refugee status. U.S. officials are concerned that the Thai military, which controls a refugee camp holding 4,200 of the Hmong, has not permitted a fair and transparent process to determine who among the camp residents would merit protection.
The U.S. government is urging Bangkok not to forcibly return the Hmong, so that potential refugees may be interviewed by officials from the United States and other nations offering to resettle refugees. Thailand has legitimate concerns about the burden on its economy posed by irregular migrants. But it has no reason to hastily or arbitrarily push out people who may be at risk. Working together with the United States and other friends, Thailand can avoid staining its proud record.
Thailand's performance stands in contrast to that of other nearby states, such as China, which has frequently repatriated North Koreans escaping starvation and tyranny. Indeed, Beijing has pressured other countries to adopt a similarly ungenerous approach to those fleeing China's own internal repression: Just last week, the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen forcibly sent home 20 Uighur asylum seekers who fled after the July protests in Urumqi, China -- despite the fact that they had been issued "Persons of Concern" letters by the U.N. Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Cambodia.
Now there are signs that Thailand, too, may be turning its back on its international obligation not to expel legitimate refugees. The Hmong people of neighboring Laos have been targets going back to the days four decades ago when they fought alongside the United States against the communists who now run Laos. The United States has resettled many of them. But Thailand is moving to expel about 4,300 Hmong asylum seekers held within its territory. Not all of them necessarily merit protection under international law; clearly, though, many do. Among those reportedly at risk of deportation are 158 Hmong in detention in Nong Khai province who have been screened and granted U.N. refugee status. U.S. officials are concerned that the Thai military, which controls a refugee camp holding 4,200 of the Hmong, has not permitted a fair and transparent process to determine who among the camp residents would merit protection.
The U.S. government is urging Bangkok not to forcibly return the Hmong, so that potential refugees may be interviewed by officials from the United States and other nations offering to resettle refugees. Thailand has legitimate concerns about the burden on its economy posed by irregular migrants. But it has no reason to hastily or arbitrarily push out people who may be at risk. Working together with the United States and other friends, Thailand can avoid staining its proud record.
6 comments:
Washington Post should know that Thailand has never been kind to refugees unless they gain political benefits or financial.
In early 1979 many Cambodian people tried to enter Thailand seeking a refugee fleeing from the killing field and communist vietnamese backed government.
Thai army loaded those people on a truck and dupmed them in a minefield at the border. Many were killed by landmines and hunger.
Thailand ignored the plight of Cambodians . Many months later the Un stepped in and paid for renting land and buying food from Thailand to support refugees.
Thailand smells only $.
Later thailand used Cambodian ressistance forces to fenced out poosible Vietnamese invasion.
Khmer routes paid money to Thailand in order to stay in thailand along the border.
It is easier say for the US and Western countries to impose good ideas than for a country like little Cambodia to plan, coordinate, implement, and execute issues and actions of an idea. With a GPD of $1 billion, most donated by international donors; Cambodia has suffered tremendously over past 30 years where it is stand today most or all of their intellectuals or educated people were murdered and killed by the communist Khmer Rouges. This idea that we should stand up to giant China is suicidal just as the same principle apply to the U.S and other Western countries that left all Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodia to death for national interest. We now know that one country on earth do anything without first apply the principle of national interest policy. The US and Western Allies are capable to execute any kind of rendition to rescue these refugees but no because the burden to do so is too heavy; so why not let poor country like Cambodia deals with it. Cambodia is in the reconstruction period just like the U.S Reconstruction Period after the American Civil War. We lack resources, means, and materiel to do anything because we are broke and poor. Cambodia national interest is money for the reconstruction and modernization of our battered cities and villages that was devastated and dismembered by both the US bombardments and the Khmer Rouges stupid idea.
Having Cambodia to stand up to China is like an ant stands up to a dinosaur.
Because of you UN,you recognize this illegal khmer rouge government .
Please Justice first!
Wishing you khmer every where,Best wishes!
Khmer Rouge survivors give voice to their 'silent suffering'
In the words of Ed Lover: "C'mon Son!"
The editors at KI-Media should know better than to recycle articles from the Washington Post.
This is less informative than reading Wikipedia. Straight-up garbage.
" Thailand can avoid staining its proud record."
=Oh please! Thailand has a proud record of protecting refugee from a war torn countries such as Cambodia? It is so sad that The Washington Post had to speak for Thailand because in reality the Thai leaders knew to damn well that there is no such record of protecting these refugees!
The story of refugees from a war torn country in South East Asia had long been in the making for so many years through cold war politic, war, economic embargo, and genocide in part Thailand play a major role!
Thailand is not that innocence when they allow the B-52s to fly from U-Tapao airfield in Thailand to drop ton and ton of bombs on Cambodia to break Cambodian economy and to cause disruption in the enemy supply line which cause a flood of war refugee in Cambodia all the way to Thailand!
What about Vietnam invasion of Cambodia? Thailand allowed the Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Laotian and Hmong war refugees to take shelter along their border to protect their arse in any event the Vietnamese army want to attack Thailand! These war refugee are used as human shield and tell me this is how Thailand protect human right? And without the financial support from United Nations to help the Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong war refugees and Thailand will treat them more than animal.
At the end the problem of money will win over everything! Thailand doesn't work for free and without more money and more support from the United Nations for these Hmong refugee or any other refugees and Thailand will deport the refugees back to their country of origin!
United Nations is so weak because U.N didn't take and look at the problem courteously to the rich and the poor countries.
If Cambodia was a rich country,Cambodian wouldn't have this prolong with vietnam territories expansion into Cambodia day by day and little by little.
U.N didn't care about people plight like Kampuchea Krom that living under terrifying under oppressor vietnam gov.
U.N let vietnam devastating Cambodia as much as they want through its puppet government.
U.N should send represent to the conflict area to solve the problem between Khmer farmers at vietnam and Cambodia borders.
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