The Thai government should halt all forced repatriation proceedings against the 7,500 ethnic Hmong refugees from Laos who are currently confined to a camp in northern Thailand's Petchabun province. This is the call today from the international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The refugees, who claim to have fled violence and persecution in Laos, are deeply fearful of being returned to their country.

As the only international organization working inside the camp, MSF urges the Thai government to carry out a proper objective screening process controlled by an independent, legitimate third party, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This third party would assess the legitimacy of their fears, verify their claims to refugee status and protection, and assure any repatriation to Laos is voluntary.

"The Hmong refugees we have been caring for in the Huai Nam Khao camp since 2005 constantly tell us how afraid they are of being sent back to Laos," said Gilles Isard, MSF head of mission in Thailand. "Yet every day, they are threatened with an imminent return to Laos

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