The Nation / 20 August 1998  
Politics  

Laos snubs Thailand on Hmong problems  

   IN an apparent snub to Thailand's attempt to renew talks 
with Laos on the fate of thousands of Hmong at Saraburi 
province's controversial Tham Krabok monastery, Vientiane 
on Wednesday reiterated its stance that Thailand resolve 
the issue internally since it was its own affair.
   On Wednesday's commentary by Khao San Pathet Lao, the 
national news agency which usually reflects official views, 
quoted Laotian authorities as saying that the Hmong there 
were not from Laos, therefore, Laos could not welcome them 
back.
   It referred to Abbot Jamroon Panchant's previous 
statement that the Hmong came from northern Thailand 
seeking treatment for drug addiction and several Thai 
senior officials' persistent denial that the monastery was 
a refugee camp and that Thailand supported the remnants of 
anti-Vientiane rebels who were disguised among them.
   "Therefore, Lao PDR is unable to take back these 
people," the commentary, monitored in Bangkok said.
   It was Laos' first official comment since the Thai 
National Security Council announced two weeks ago that the 
government would clear the monastery of the Hmong and will 
encourage them to return to their hometowns -- be it in 
northern Thailand and Laos.
   The government planned to raise the issue at the 
upcoming meeting of Thai-Laotian military sub-committee on 
peace and order along the common border, initially planned 
on Aug 28 and 29 in Vientiane.
   It also planned to discuss with the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) about possible assistance 
in case Hmong identified as Laotians are sent back.
   There are some 13,000 Hmong at the monastery, including 
about 200 members of the remnant rebel group. The Interior 
Ministry on Monday began its final count on the Hmong 
population there before the process of tracing their 
origins begins.
   The Hmong at Tham Krabok are the last remaining thorn in 
bilateral Thai-Lao relations since both countries agreed to 
depoliticise border disputes in 1989.
   In every bilateral meeting, regardless of political or 
economic agenda, Laos has urged Thai authorities to take 
action against the Hmong there, some of whom it accused of 
using the monastery as a sanctuary and point of contact 
with overseas Hmong to indulge in anti-Vientiane 
activities.
   Vientiane has been firm against taking them back but has 
given no clues as to how Thailand should handle the rebel 
suspects, some of whom fled political persecution in Laos a 
decade ago.
   Thailand has argued that keeping them in Thailand would 
not dispel Vientiane's doubt that Thailand continues to 
harbour these people.