On 7 July 2017, Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), paid a courtesy call on General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and earlier on the same day had the opportunity to meet with H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, during his first visit to Thailand.

 

At the Government House, the Prime Minister thanked the UNHCR for its cooperation with the Thai Government in providing assistance to various groups of displaced persons and migrants in Thailand extending as far back as the Indochina War. The Prime Minister also congratulated the UNHCR on its appointment of Ms. Praya Lundberg as the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, as well as its close cooperation with other well-known Thai personalities. Both sides further exchanged views on the situation regarding displaced persons and irregular migrants in the region, which requires cooperation from all sides. Furthermore, the Prime Minister expressed his readiness to repatriate displaced persons back to Myanmar on a voluntary basis. The High Commissioner expressed his agency’s appreciation and willingness to support the Thai Government in that regard. 

 

After his meeting at the Government House, the High Commissioner also met with General Anupong Paochinda, Minister of Interior, and General Thaweep Netniyom, Secretary-General of the National Security Council. Both sides held meaningful discussions on practical steps towards strengthening their cooperation in Thailand.

 

Earlier on the same day, the High Commissioner met with the Deputy Foreign Minister, during which both sides discussed the return of displaced persons back to Myanmar on a voluntary basis, as well as the humanitarian care provided to various groups of migrants in Thailand. The High Commissioner expressed his gratitude to Thailand for its efforts to eradicate statelessness in Thailand by means of easing the process of acquiring Thai citizenship.

 

The robust partnership between Thailand and the UNHCR has spanned some 40 years. Some noteworthy joint projects include providing humanitarian assistance to different groups of displaced persons and asylum seekers in Thailand, as well as the resettlement and return of Myanmar displaced persons in Thailand to their homeland in a manner that is both safe and voluntary. A pilot group of 71 Myanmar displaced persons were returned to Myanmar in October 2016.