US reviews policies on Asian refugees
July 16, 1981
Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand's premier, Prem Tinsulanonda, met with US refugee officials, led by former Assistant Secretary of State Marshall Green, on a tour of Southeast Asia to assess US relief and resettlement policies for Indochinese refugees and suggest possible policy changes.
In the meeting, the United States was asked to adopt a more flexible immigration policy to speed departure of 200,000 refugees here. Concerned about the security threat caused by the refugees, particularly from Cambodia, Thailand wants them resettled elsewhere or repatriated.
Mr. Prem said the US delegation backed Thailand's controversial plan to unilaterally repatriate Cambodian refug ees who want to return home.