Speech #1000135638

And as a sure sign of his delicate touch. the people of Thailand are happy. I was in Bangkok a year ago and what impressed me the most was the graciousness of the peopletruly the Thai people are generous hosts and whether you are talking about the people in Bangkok or the people of Udorn or the many small villages. the Thai people are worldrenowned for their kindness and compassion. These characteristics have been most evident in the Thais generous assistance to the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled the tumult of the Vietnam war. and later the carnage of the Pol Pot regime. Along the Thai border today live hundreds of thousands of refugees whom the world seems to have forgotten. But Thailand hasnt and has led an international effort to provide asylum for these desperate refugees until such time as circumstances in Vietnam. Cambodia. and Laos allow safe repatriation. The United States and Thailands longstanding friendship has been bolstered by our partnership in dealing with the millions of refugees from Southeast Asia. The United States has resettled nearly a million of these refugees. and a great number of them came to the United States from Thai soil. Of course. Thailands role in providing asylum for these refugees has not been an easy one. Many areas within Thailand are poor. rural areas with a standard of living not much above the subsistence level. Were it not for the courageous leadership of the King and Her Majesty. the Queenand I point out here that she has taken a personal interest in the plight of these refugeesthe great humanitarian chapter in world history being written for 12 years. known as the Indochinese resettlement and protection program. never would have been possible. While there have been times that I have quarreled with the Thai over specific refugee decisions or policies. I have never taken issue with their honorable intentions and instincts. I look forward to continuing to work with Thailand and all of the ASIAN countries in maintaining a safe asylum program in the region until Cambodia is settled and the hostilities in the region cease. Many would like to put this whole refugee issue behind us. Indeed. the world press has grown weary of reporting on the misery in the campscamps where some refugees have been born and are now entering adolescence. When civilians are assaulted in the camps. when pushbacks occur. when pirates attack the boats still coming out of Vietnam. the press seems tired of reporting about it. And this apathy is not limited to the press alone. Governments including the United States have elements with the policymaking apparatus which believe that the free world has done its part and that we should now cut clean from our responsibility for the refugees. Thanks to Thailand and our Government under the leadership of President Reagan. Secretary Shultz and his Department and the Senate in its 2 to 1 majority in favor of a generous refugee program. and key Members of the House. that negative sentiment has been contained. I recall meeting with Foreign Minister Siddhi and General Pichitr where we spoke with one voice on the need for safety for these helpless refugees. and of course in their voices I was hearing the voice of the King whose pronounced support for the refugees has guided Thai policy. So on this day of great celebration for the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. I join with my colleagues to wish the King a happy birthday. to thank his people for their humanitarian support for the Indochinese refugees. and to pledge my continued desire to maintain with Thai Ambassador Arsa Sarasin and his government. the wonderful friendship which characterizes United StatesThai relations.