Dear TLC list members, <br>You may be interested in the following Urgent Action from Amnesty International USA.<br>Very best wishes,<br>tyrell haberkorn<br><span class="gmail_quote"><br></span>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>Urgent Action on Arbitrary Arrest of Refugees in Thailand (UA
324/06)</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:11:12 -0400</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>Andrea Solomon <a href="mailto:asolomon@aiusa.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><asolomon@aiusa.org></a></td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">To: </th>
<td>Urgent Action Network <a href="mailto:uanetwork@aiusa.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"><uanetwork@aiusa.org></a></td>
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<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">URGENT ACTION APPEAL<br>
- From Amnesty International USA</font>
<div><br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">To read the current Urgent Action
newsletter,
go to <br>
<a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html</a> <br>
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For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):<br>
<a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa32406.pdf" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa32406.pdf</a> </font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Note: Please write on behalf of these
persons even though <br>
you may not have received the original UA when issued on July 6, 2007.
<br>
Thanks!</font>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2"><br>
17 August 2007<br>
Further Information on UA 324/06 (29 November 2006) and <br>
follow-up (8 December 2006; 19 January 2007; 29 January <br>
2007; 31 January 2007) – Fear of forcible return/arbitrary <br>
arrest/health concern</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">THAILAND <br>
149 Lao Hmong refugees, including 77 children <br>
and nine infants</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">The 149 Lao Hmong refugees detained
at Nong Khai Immigration <br>
Detention Center (IDC) began a hunger-strike at midday on 16 <br>
August in protest at their continued detention in appalling <br>
conditions. There are grave concerns for their welfare, <br>
particularly as more than half of them are children and some <br>
are already suffering from health problems made worse by the <br>
conditions at the detention centre and the fact that they <br>
have been detained for a prolonged period.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Conditions at the Nong Khai IDC have
deteriorated recently. <br>
Since June the refugees are confined to two small, hot, <br>
windowless, overcrowded cells, which they are not allowed to <br>
leave, in what the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has <br>
described as ''deplorable'' conditions. They reportedly have <br>
no access to clean drinking water, have not been allowed to <br>
wash their clothes, and have had their mosquito netting and <br>
blankets removed. This is reportedly in response to the <br>
escape of seven of the group in June, two of whom were <br>
recaptured and returned.<br>
<br>
The 149, who are recognized as refugees by the UNHCR, have <br>
been detained for the last nine months. They were arrested <br>
in mid-November 2006 and initially detained at the IDC in <br>
Bangkok. On 7 December they were transported to Nong Khai, <br>
on the border with Laos.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">The Thai authorities attempted to
forcibly
return the group <br>
to Laos on 30 January, but met with international <br>
condemnation after immigration officials dragged the women <br>
and children from their cell, loaded them onto buses and <br>
took them to the Lao border. The authorities attempted to <br>
force the men and boys from their cell, where they had <br>
barricaded themselves. The unlawful deportation attempt was <br>
abandoned, and since then Prime Minister Surayong Chulanont <br>
has stated that the group will not be forcibly returned to <br>
Laos, and will be allowed to resettle in third countries. <br>
Four countries have accepted all of them for resettlement, <br>
but the Thai authorities have not yet allowed the refugees <br>
to leave.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Despite repeated calls from UNHCR and
other members of the <br>
international community, including Amnesty International, <br>
the 149 recognized refugees in Nong Khai IDC have not been <br>
released and allowed to proceed with their resettlement.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">BACKGROUND INFORMATION<br>
Around 8,000 ethnic Hmong Lao asylum-seekers are living in a <br>
camp at Huay Nam Khao in Phetchabun province. Lao Hmong <br>
started arriving at the camp in large numbers in 2004, <br>
seeking refugee status. In addition, an unknown number are <br>
held at police detention facilities in the province. </font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">These individuals claim to have been
persecuted in Laos <br>
because of their connection with ethnic Hmong armed <br>
resistance groups, who fought alongside the USA against the <br>
communist Lao forces during the Viet Nam war (1965-1975) and <br>
its spill-over fighting in Laos. </font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">So far, the UNHCR has not been allowed
access to the Lao <br>
Hmong in Huay Nam Khao in order to determine their <br>
protection needs, and the Thai authorities have not <br>
introduced a fair and satisfactory procedure to enable these <br>
individuals to claim asylum and a durable solution to their <br>
plight. In early June a group of 163 asylum-seekers were <br>
forcibly returned under a bilateral agreement between <br>
Thailand and Laos, in breach of international human rights <br>
law and standards.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
appeals
to arrive as quickly <br>
as possible:<br>
- expressing concern that 149 Lao Hmong refugees, including <br>
children and infants, remain in prolonged detention in <br>
overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in Nong Khai <br>
Immigration Detention Center;<br>
- expressing concern that the refugees are already in poor <br>
health, and that this is likely to deteriorate further as <br>
they embark on a protest hunger strike, and urging the <br>
authorities to immediately provide the refugees with <br>
adequate medical care;<br>
- calling on the authorities to take immediate steps to <br>
improve the conditions at the IDC and the treatment of the <br>
refugees, in accordance with UN Standard Minimum Rules for <br>
the Treatment of Prisoners;<br>
- urging the authorities to arrange the speedy resettlement <br>
of the refugees to a third country;<br>
- urging the authorities to ensure that UNHCR and other <br>
relevant independent humanitarian agencies are given <br>
immediate access to all asylum seekers, including new <br>
arrivals, in Huay Nam Khao and other facilities in </font>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Phetchabun province.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">APPEALS TO:<br>
Head of agency with responsibilities for border areas and <br>
refugees:<br>
Secretary-General<br>
Prakit Prachonpachanuk<br>
National Security Council<br>
Government House, Phitsanulok Road <br>
Dusit, Bangkok, 10300 <br>
THAILAND<br>
Fax: 011 66 2282 5131<br>
Salutation: Dear Secretary-General</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Prime Minister:<br>
General Surayud Chulanont<br>
Office of the Prime Minister<br>
Government House, Phitsanulok Road <br>
Dusit, Bangkok, 10300 <br>
THAILAND<br>
Fax: 011 66 2282 5131<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:opm@opm.go.th" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">opm@opm.go.th</a><br>
<a href="mailto:spokesman@thaigov.go.th" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">spokesman@thaigov.go.th</a> <br>
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Minister of Foreign Affairs:<br>
Nitya Pibulsonggram<br>
Ministry of Foreign Affairs<br>
Wang Saranrom, Bangkok 10200<br>
THAILAND<br>
Fax: 011 66 2 643 5320 <br>
Email: <a href="mailto:minister@mfa.go.th" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">minister@mfa.go.th</a><br>
<a href="mailto:permsec@mfa.go.th" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">permsec@mfa.go.th</a> <br>
Salutation: Dear Minister</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">COPIES TO: <br>
Ambassador Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn<br>
Embassy of Thailand<br>
1024 Wisconsin Ave. NW<br>
Washington DC 20007<br>
Fax: 1 202 944 3611<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:info@thaiembdc.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">info@thaiembdc.org</a> </font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.<br>
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals <br>
after 28 September 2007.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">----------------------------------<br>
Tip of the Month:<br>
Visit the Individuals at Risk UA blog at <br>
<a href="http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/urgentaction" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/urgentaction</a> for daily <br>
updates on recent Urgent Actions and tips on how <br>
to continue your activism. You can browse book <br>
reviews, share suggestions on how to advance <br>
human rights communities, or read about extraordinary <br>
activists from around the world. And don't forget to <br>
leave a comment — we're always open to suggestions <br>
on how to make IAR a better resource! </font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">** POSTAGE RATES **<br>
Within the United States: <br>
$0.26 - Postcards <br>
$0.41 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)<br>
To Mexico and Canada:<br>
$0.69 - Postcards <br>
$0.69 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)<br>
To all other destination countries:<br>
$0.90 - Postcards <br>
$0.90 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Amnesty International is a worldwide
grassroots movement <br>
that promotes and defends human rights.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">This Urgent Action may be reposted if
kept intact, including <br>
contact information and stop action date (if applicable). <br>
Thank you for your help with this appeal.</font>
<br>
<br>
<font face="sans-serif" size="2">Urgent Action Network<br>
Amnesty International USA<br>
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl<br>
Washington DC 20003<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:uan@aiusa.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">uan@aiusa.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/</a> <br>
Phone: 202.544.0200<br>
Fax: 202.675.8566</font>
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL<br>
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