UNHCR concerned about deportation of 53 Lao Hmong from Thailand
BANGKOK , Thailand , November 16 (UNHCR) - The UN
refugee agency said Thursday it was seriously concerned about Thailand
's deportation to Laos of 53 ethnic Hmong, including a newborn baby.
Describing the deportation as "most regrettable," a
UNHCR spokesperson said the group was handed over to Lao authorities at
a crossing in north-east Thailand 's Nong Khai district.
"Every government has the right to deport irregular migrants, but UNHCR
is seriously concerned that there may have been within this group genuine
refugees who were in need of international protection and could face persecution
in Laos," said Giuseppe de Vincentis, UNHCR's acting representative
in Thailand.
"We have no access to these people once they are returned to Laos ,
and there have been no guarantees that they will be properly treated on their
return to Laos ," he added.
The forced return of the 53 Hmong is tantamount
to refoulement, contrary to international humanitarian law. The principle
of "non-refoulement" says
that no refugee or asylum seeker whose case has not yet been properly assessed
can be forcibly returned to a country where their life or liberty could be
in danger.
UNHCR has repeatedly asked the Thai government for access to the Lao Hmong
in detention in Thailand to determine whether any were in need of international
protection.
"The UN refugee agency has made several representations to the Royal
Thai Government not to carry out deportations of Lao Hmong and has renewed
its offer to assist the Thai government to find viable solutions for the
roughly 6,000 Hmong living in makeshift camps near Huay Nam Khao village
in [ Thailand 's] Petchabun province," de Vincentis said.
UNHCR does not have access to this mixed group, which has been in Thailand
for almost a year and a half.
De Vincentis also recalled that Thailand deported 26 Hmong children to Laos
in December last year, and there has been no trace of them since, despite
efforts by UNHCR and the Thai government to determine their fate.
By Kitty McKinsey
In Bangkok,Thailand
|
