Thailand is a lifeline for defectors in China, because most other routes out of the country are now blocked. 90% of the defectors now entering South Korea do so via Thailand.
Thailand never did join the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees; however, Bangkok has a long tradition of providing humane support to them. In the case of North Korean defectors, the Thai authorities simply seek to confirm that each is an illegal immigrant, before formally deporting them to South Korea.
Under Thai law, illegal entrants must either pay a fine of 2,000-6000 Thai Baht ($6 to $20) or serve a sentence of 10-30 days before deportation. Most pay the fine to speed up the process.
In Thailand there are three Immigration camps, one in Bangkok and two in the northern states. Most defectors are detained in Bangkok. There are separate cells for men and women, each about 130m ² and each containing 40 to 50 people.
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However, over 420 North Koreans were held here in the summer of 2007, a level of overcrowding that caused a lot of conflict. Due to the hot and humid Bangkok weather, temperatures regularly go well over 100°F in the cells, even without so many people being present.
Ordinary detainees struggle to lay down in the cramped facility, and it is allegedly common to pass the camp authorities a few dollars to buy more space. There are those who urge the Thai government to expand the facility, but numbers vary wildly through the year, making such a measure impractical.
Kim Sun Young, who entered South Korea in 2010 along precisely this route, says, “There were about 150 people in one room. When everyone tried to lie down only a very narrow space was left to walk through. It was as hot as a sauna. Moreover, there are very few showers and toilets, making it even more inconvenient for the defectors. Plus they will argue over the smallest issue and get easily irritated.”
Lee Chul Seung, who arrived in Seoul last July, agreed, saying, “At that time there were about 140 people. The room was so crowded that some of us slept sitting up. We had to shower and wash our dishes in a small space that was separated by a divider. Everything was done in the same confined space. Regulations do not permit showers in the daytime, but how could we not shower when it was so hot? Some people showered anyway, and there were arguments over that.”
However, the Thai authorities say that the detention facility has been much improved. One local official explained, “Many more fans have been installed in the male and female rooms, so much so that the electricity goes out. The floors have of course been fixed, as have the showers.”
“The best solution is to expand the facility, but it is not a simple problem,” the official continued “It is not merely North Korean defectors staying there; there are refugees from all over the place living there together, which makes it more complicated.”
There are books and DVD players available in the Bangkok facility, so defectors are able to watch South Korean TV shows. Students receive basic education twice a day, and have recently been studying English. There is sex education for women.
However, experts and activists would like to see specialized settlement education as well. Since defectors suffer considerable psychological trauma during the defection process, there are calls for a program to deal with mental health issues as well.
Yoon Yeo Sang, the director of Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, emphasized, “I submitted a program a few years ago. Things like watching TV and reading books are also important, but we need a systematic program to give practical help to the defectors.”
However, the government official commented, “If the waiting period were two or three months then a good program for the situation could be created, but with the current short waiting period such a program would not be effective.”
