Visit by U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle to the Huay Nam Khao facility for Lao Hmong Petchabun Province

August 7, 2009

Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok

On August 7, 2009, at the invitation of the Royal Thai Government (RTG), the U.S.  Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. James F. Entwistle visited the Huay Nam Khao detention facility for Lao Hmong in Petchabun Province.  The facility is administered by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States provides humanitarian assistance to the 4,700 Lao Hmong residents remaining there through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Catholic Organization for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR), a non-governmental organization.

Mr. Entwistle participated in a discussion with Lao Hmong residents in Huay Nam Khao.  He explained that the U.S. has no plans for a large-scale resettlement program for the residents of the facility.   Standard U.S. policy worldwide is to accept for consideration, on a case-by-case basis, referrals of vulnerable individuals  received from international humanitarian organizations – normally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

During  his visit, Mr. Entwistle met with officials from both the RTG and the Government of Laos to discuss possible approaches to resolving the long-standing situation of all Lao Hmong at Huay Nam Khao.

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