Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, South and Southeast Asia, Volume XV

539. Telegram From the Embassy in Thailand to the Department of State¹

Bangkok, December 4, 1959—11 p.m.

1491. Reference: Deptel 1328,² Embtel 1479.³ Embassy officer discussed Vietnamese refugee question December 4 with Chalor Wanaputi, Inspecting Commissioner, Ministry Interior, former Governor of Bangkok and close personal friend several Embassy officials. During conversation Chalor called in and frequently sought information from assistant to Galan Amatayajun, Chief, Foreign Affairs Division, who Ministry Interior official directly concerned with repatriation. Chalor stated 70,000 refugees have now registered for repatriation DRV. He claimed Interior Ministry had originally expected majority refugees would prefer remain Thailand and these figures accordingly came as surprise. He accounted for number refugees which substantially higher than total thought living in Thailand as follows:

(1) Although police registered refugees upon their original entry into Thailand, police records inaccurate,

(2) On arrival Thailand refugees scattered widely and no real effort made to keep track of them and

(3) Natural increase. Chalor explained that many refugees came to register from outlying districts, for example, in one, Amphur, which carried police registration 600 Vietnamese, 2,000 had registered for repatriation. Thus Ministry Interior accepts 70,000 figure registered for repatriation as accurate and original figure of 50,000 in all Thailand as inaccurate.

Chalor vigorously asserted that there had been absolutely no pressure by Thai Government for refugees to sign up for repatriation. He claimed there were many witnesses to registration who could vouch for this and explained procedure as follows: Those wishing go DRV had to so indicate on form provided; those wishing remain Thailand or proceed GVN were instructed not to fill in form. (This account somewhat at odds with procedure outlined to me by Thanat—Embtel 1404⁴ —but does come from official directly involved repatriation procedures.) When asked what Thai Government will do in event refugees who had registered for DRV changed their minds, Chalor said they would be permitted remain Thailand since Rangoon agreement did not specify that those signing agreement must irrevocably proceed and since agreement stipulated no coercion permitted. Upon arrival Bangkok area prior embarkation for Hanoi refugees would be housed in Public Welfare schools without guards (since they not regarded as criminals). Chalor said he had asked General Praphat what he planned to do in event refugees attempted stage demonstration on arrival Bangkok area and said Praphat had laughingly replied he would cross bridge when he came to it.

Chalor also noted refugee children born in Thailand are Thai nationals by law but saw no problem their repatriation since all are minors and subject parental control.

Comment: Embassy reassured by Chalor’s assurances refugees not forced register for repatriation DRV and would not be coerced into going should they change their minds. First group scheduled for departure from Bangkok harbor January 5 and it should be possible for Embassy to monitor this operation. Since 70,000 figure result of recently concluded registration Embassy inclined accept it as genuine and also explanation original figure 50,000 inaccurate. As for question how many will actually depart, only time will tell and Embassy’s doubts that substantial number will actually proceed have been reported previously. This connection, British Embassy officer who recently in northeast reports the 280 detainees who released from Bangkok jails to return northeast prior repatriation (Weeka’s 44, 45)⁵ have actually made preparations depart but remainder have made no move dispose their property or otherwise prepare for departure.⁶

Johnson

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 292.51G22/12–459. Confidential. Also sent to CINCPAC for POLAD and repeated to Saigon, Vientiane, and Phnom Penh.
2. Supra.
3. In telegram 1479, December 3, the Embassy commented on several aspects of the Vietnamese refugee, repatriation problem. (Department of State, Central Files, 292.51G22/12–359)
4. This reference is presumably in error. Telegram 1405, November 27, recounted a conversation with Thanat on the refugee question in which he indicated that Thai procedure called for those wishing to return to North or South Vietnam to so indicate by registering. Those not registering would show their desire to remain in Thailand. (Ibid., 292.51G22/11–2759)
5. Reference is to telegrams 1127, October 30, and 1207, November 7, containing the weekly summaries prepared by the Embassy in Thailand, both of which commented briefly on the refugee question. (Ibid., 792.00(W)/10–3059 and 792.00(W)/11–759)
6. Telegram 1796 from Bangkok, January 6, 1960, reported that the first boatload of 922 Vietnamese left Bangkok on schedule on January 4. The operation was monitored by Sarit, Praphat, and other high-ranking officials under strict security measures. (Ibid., 292.51G22/1–660)