US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK4508

UNCLAS BANGKOK 004508 
 
SIPDIS 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, TH, BURMA 
SUBJECT: THAI GOVERNMENT LETTER APPROVING U.S. RESETTLEMENT 
PROGRAM IN BURMA BORDER CAMPS 
 
1. On July 8, Embassy received a letter from General Winai 
Phattiyakul, Secretary-General of the Thai National Security 
Council, which gives formal Thai government approval for the 
USG to undertake resettlement from the Thai-Burma border 
refugee camps.  This letter responds to a May 2, 2005 letter 
from PRM DAS Kelly Ryan proposing such a resettlement 
program.  Original of Winai letter will be sent to DAS Ryan. 
 
2.  Text of Winai letter follows: 
 
No. 0803/4779 
 
Office of the National Security Council 
Government House 
Bangkok 10300 
 
July 6, 2005 
 
Dear Ms. Ryan, 
 
Reference is made to your letter dated 2nd May 2005 
concerning the United States Government's decision on the 
expanding its assistance to Myanmar displaced people residing 
in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border.  In this 
regard, a case raised during our last meeting concerning the 
beginning of the resettlement process of Myanmar displaced 
people at Tham Hin shelter, Ratchaburi province, would be a 
great initiative.  I would like to inform you that the Royal 
Thai Government has agreed upon your proposal mentioned above 
and will make a cooperative effort to facilitate such 
resettlement program.  In this respect, the first necessary 
process, which is needed to be completed, is that concerned 
Thai authority along with the UNHCR will work on the 
registration of those who reside in Tham Hin shelter.  I am 
quite certain that our effort would yield a satisfactory 
outcome as it has been in the case of Wat Tham Krabok program 
and I hope our cooperation efforts in working on issues of 
Myanmar displaced people would be tremendously successful as 
good as ever. 
 
The Royal Thai Government has always firmly complied with 
humanitarian principle in assisting Myanmar displaced people 
for over 20 years.  As long as the concept of responsibilty 
sharing concerned, we would be able to assist most of these 
unfortunate individuals to have a better live and future.  As 
you are well aware of, the Royal Thai Government has taken an 
initiative toward improving education system in all the 
shelters as well as engaging in providing appropriate 
vocational trainings.  I, again, would like to state that 
expanding vocational training and resettlement programs are 
our major policies dealing with displaced people issues and, 
at the same time, we wish that we would be able to solve this 
protraced refugee situation at the root cause, which will 
lead to durable solutions in the near future. 
 
Your kind cooperation and necessary arrangement on the matter 
would be highly appreciated. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
General Winai Phattiyakul 
Secretary General 
 
SIPDIS 
 
End letter text. 
BOYCE