SBS Radio Hmong Program has interviewed Mr. Sao Yang, a former member of Hmong refugee family who has claimed still have the bio-data sheet (BV) provided for refugees by United Nation High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) in the 1970s to 1990s at Ban Vinai Refugee Camp at ParkChome, Loei, Thailand, where they used to live then when the camp closed down in 1995 they were transfer to Ban Napho Refugee Camp and it was closed down in 2004 that is why he and his family along with some Hmong families who decided not to either resettle in Western countries or repatriate back to Laos end tup in Tam Krabok, Saraburi Province, Thailand where they are living now.
He said that it is quite easy finding jobs especially jobs which relating to harvesting crops within Saraburi province, but is very hard to get around due to the lacking of proper documents for instance identity card, family census book or driving license. And it is not easy to just get a certificate certifying that they actually at living Wat Tam Krabok, so they can access local employment.
Hmong families living at Wat Tham Krabok are seen by locals as illegal foreigners, but they are allowed to stay due to Thai Interior Ministry's and UNCHR's assistance and helped settling them here, providing that they have no place to go and they don't cause any trouble that Wat Tamkrabok will loose its face
Mr. Sao Yang also said that locol authorities has said that they (Hmong families) are very lucky to stay at Wat Tham Krabok, and also were threatened that they could face deportation back to Laos. Mr. Sao Yang said that they shouldn't be treated that way, as in the past there were many cases who were sent back to Laos experienced some sort of persecutions, or heard bad news in the media about them.
"Restriction is the norm" said Sao Yang. "It is not easy to go from places to places if you don't have proper permitted documents. Local Authorities used to come to our village and did a survey which they have said they are going look into issuing some documents for us i.e ID card. But it has since been quiet up until now, so we don't know what is going on. Will we get these papers or ID cards? No one knows".
Hmong kids are issued with one type of card called "Zero Card" which allowed them to study at local schools, but are not allowed to travel interstate within Thailand. But because teachers at local schools recommended changing their original names into Thai name with their original family names, even making it more difficult for them to request permission paper from local authorities as they have got different name from the bio-data sheet (BV) of family census that UNHCR provided them.
"Once, my father wanted to visit our grandmother grave at Ban Napho Refugee Camp, Nokhorn Phanom Province where lots of Hmong and Lao refugees used to live, but we were refused by local authorities,'' said Sao Yang.
When asked him why most of the Hmong refugees have already migrated to Western countries or other places in Thailand, they are still living in Tam Krabok. He replied that because his parents don't want to go anywhere and just would like to stay in Thailand, but because they cannnot afford to move, that is why they still end up in Wat Tam Krabok.
Sao Yang said that it is because when Ban Napho Refugee Camp at Nakhon Phanom was closed down in 2004, and with the collaboration between Thai Interior Ministry and the UNHCR, they are able to settle in Wat Tam krabok until further notice made.
SBS Radio Hmong Program has contacted Thai Interior Ministry and it's department of security, border and refugees, but it is not available for any comments.
SBS Radio Hmong Program has also contacted UNHCR media spokeswomen in Thailand and will further updated about this issue some time next week.
Mr. Sao Yang said that they have not contacted Thai local authorities, UNHCR or Hmong Bangkok Associate and Network or Hmong Thai Association for help because they don't know if when they do, they will get any help.#
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