THE NATION: UNHCR help to be so

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

June 4, 1998


                                     



                            DISPLACED PEOPLE

              UNHCR help to be
              sought in tackling
              H'mong issue

              13,000 in Saraburi not seen as refugees

              Bhanravee Tansubhapol

              The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will be
              asked to help with displaced hilltribe people living at Tham
              Krabok, the foreign minister said yesterday.

              Surin Pitsuwan, who was in Vientiane for talks with Somsavat
              Lengsavad, his Lao counterpart, said the 13,000 H'mong at the
              wat in Saraburi were not refugees but the UNHCR had a
              mandate to help displaced persons.

              Mr Surin, who returns today, said Thailand would start tackling
              the issue after the Interior Ministry had completed work on the
              H'mong places of origin.

              A National Security Council source said the process had been
              completed. Phra Chamroon Parnchand, abbot of Tham Krabok,
              has said a large number of the H'mong were from the North.

              Mr Surin said he did not ask Mr Somsavat if Laos was willing to
              accept any of the Saraburi H'mong but had invited Lao officials
              to visit them at the wat, where they have been for about 20
              years.

              Mr Surin also told Mr Somsavat it was policy to prevent
              violations of international law from Thai soil.

              Mr Surin also proposed Thailand and Laos try to solve security
              problems along the border as well as economic and social
              problems over the next five years, under a "new vision 2003", to
              coincide with the launch of the Asean Free Trade Area.

              Laos also agreed to allow access to Vientiane by Thai vehicles
              provided they were insured, and to recognise the Thai driving
              licence. The Interior Ministry is thinking of giving Lao vehicles
              access to Udon Thani.

              In addition, Laos and Thailand agreed to sign, possibly during
              the joint commission meeting in Thailand in September, four
              agreements, on transport, visa exemption for officials, extradition
              and finance ministry cooperation.

              They also agreed to conduct joint patrols on the Mekong River
              under the aegis of the joint border committee.

              Mr Somsavat pledged to help solve problems, mainly relating to
              regulations, of 12 Thai investors largely engaged in tourism and
              construction in Laos.

              The Laotian side agreed to let Thai officials visit Thai prisoners at
              any time on request. Thailand urged Laos to draw up master
              plans for cooperation in electricity, transport and
              communications, agriculture, telecommunications and investment.

              Thailand also proposed the upgrading to ministerial level of the
              committee for economic cooperation between Thailand, Laos,
              Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and China. 




                                     




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