[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E212-E213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HMONG REFUGEES IN THAILAND

                                 ______


                             HON. JACK REED

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to submit for the Record a letter 
from Wendy Sherman, Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the 
State Department, in response to my concerns regarding Hmong refugees 
in Thailand. I am pleased that the State Department has made progress 
with the Royal Thai Government in gaining access to Hmong refugees. On 
behalf of the Hmong community in Rhode Island, I will continue to 
monitor this important issue.

         U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, 
           and Migration,
                                 Washington, DC, January 22, 1996.
     Hon. Jack Reed,
     House of Representatives
       Dear Mr. Reed: Thank you for your letter of November 28, 
     1995 regarding your concerns for Hmong refugees in Thailand.
       First, let me assure you that we share your concern for 
     this special population. Since 

[[Page E213]]
     1975, we have resettled approximately 249,000 Lao refugees (mostly 
     Hmong) out of Thailand. We have provided a large share of the 
     support that the Office of the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has received to maintain 
     refugee camps and we and non-governmental organizations 
     assist programs in Laos for refugees who have elected to 
     return home. With only some 6,000 Lao refugees remaining in 
     camps in Thailand we are committed to these same two 
     solutions: voluntary repatriation and third country 
     resettlement.
       As you state in your letter, we have for some time 
     requested permission of the Royal Thai Government to be 
     allowed to interview those remaining Hmong and other Lao 
     refugees in camps in Thailand who may wish to resettle in the 
     United States. In November, a team of officers led by 
     Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Charles Sykes 
     went to Bangkok specifically to discuss this issue. I am 
     pleased to report that we reached an agreement in principle 
     with the Royal Thai Government for U.S. access to Hmong and 
     other Lao in the first asylum camps in Thailand. We are now 
     working to finalize the agreement and hope to begin 
     processing this population in early January. Within the FY 
     1996 refugee admissions ceiling there are sufficient numbers 
     available for approved Laotian cases to be admitted to the 
     U.S. this fiscal year.
       We would also like to assure you that, contrary to reports, 
     to date, no asylum seekers or refugees have been forced to 
     return to Laos. Approxiamtely 23,000 Lao (mostly Hmong) have 
     returned voluntarily to Laos since 1980. From all reprots, 
     including nongovernmental organizations working in Laos and 
     from U.N. officials, there is no persecution of returnees. 
     The United States and other governments contribute to 
     reintegra- 
     tion programs which assist returnees to resettle in Laos. 
     UNHCR has Hmong- and Lao-speaking monitors who travel 
     throughout the country to assist returnees and to monitor 
     their situation. These monitors have reported no persecution 
     of returnees.
       We hope that the above information addresses your concerns. 
     Please do not hesitate to contact this office again if we can 
     be of further assistance.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Wendy Sherman,
     Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs.

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