SELECTED FACTORS AFFECTING RELOCATION OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OF NORTHEAST THAILAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01018A000400130001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 35
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 1, 1963
• Content Type: STUDY

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SECRET Copy No.
yD~tj
GEOGRAPHIC SUPPORT STUDY
SELECTED FACTORS AFFECTING RELOCATION
OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OF
NORTHEAST THAILAND
CIA/RR GS 63-14
August 1963
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
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WARNING
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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NO FOREIGN DISSEM
SELECTED FACTORS AFFECTING RELOCATION
OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OF
NORTHEAST THAILAND
CIA/RR GS 63-14
August 1963
Office of Research and Reports
S-E-C-R-E-T
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
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CONTENTS
Page
I. Introduction and Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Proposed Relocation Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A. Basis for Selection of Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. Economic Suitability of the Relocation Areas . . . . . 10
C. Comments on Other Potential Relocation Areas . . . . . 13
1. Pulao Terutao . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2. Ko Samui and Ko Phangan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3. Southeastern Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
III. Estimated Costs of Relocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A. General Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
B. Costs of Resettlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1. Transport from Homes to Railroad Stations . . . . . 16
2. Rail Transport from Provincial Railheads
to Muang Nakhon Sawan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3. Transport from Railroad Station at Muang Nakhon Sawan
to Area. A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4. Costs of Meals and Overnight Accommodations . . . . 20
5. Cost of Relief Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Maps
Map 1. Location and Number of Vietnamese Registered
for Repatriation, August 1962 . . . . . . . . following page 3
Map 2. Location of Proposed Relocation
Areas . A and B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover
Map 3. Density of Population by Amphur . . . . . . . . following page 5
Map 4. Population Dot Map of Areas A and B . . . . . . following page 5
Annex
(under separate cover)
Topographic Map Sheet Coverage of Proposed Relocation Areas A and B
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SELECTED FACTORS AFFECTING RELOCATION
OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OF
NORTHEAST THAILAND
1. Introduction and Background
The !+0,000 or more Vietnamese refugees in Northeast Thailand constitute
an exploitable cadre for subversion and insurgency in a strategic region of
Thailand. This report briefly treats certain geographic and economic
factors bearing on a possible relocation operation whereby the refugees
would be resettled in less sensitive areas of the country. The report is
based on sources available in Washington. Additional sources, such as
very large-scale maps with contours at 5-foot and 10-foot intervals, are
.needed but lacking. The conclusions contained in the report are tentative
and approximate. A field check for reliability of the details presented
is therefore strongly recommended.
The movement of sizable groups of Vietnamese into Thailand began
nearly 150 years ago with the arrival of a group of Buddhist settlers.
They were absorbed into the local community,. and their descendents today
are concentrated in the Bangkok area. About 120 years ago, groups of
Catholic Vietnamese who were oppressed by their rulers migrated to Thailand
under, the leadership of French missionaries. Their descendents also are
found in the Bangkok area as well as in Chanthaburi Province. Although these
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Vietnamese are accepted as Thai nationals, they identify themselves as
Annamese because of their religion. In the 1920's, another large group
of Vietnamese emigrated.to Thailand after an unsuccessful revolt against
French rule. They settled in Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon Provinces
and were given Thai nationality.
The Vietnamese who constitute a threat to Thailand's internal security,
however, are more recent arrivals. In 19+5-46, during the hostilities
that ensued when the French attempted to reinstate their influence in
Indochina after World .War II, some 50,000 pro-nationalist Vietnamese
refugees fled from northern Laos into Northeast Thailand. The over-
whelming majority came from the Lao provinces. of Phong Saly or Houa Phan
(Sam Neua) and had relatives.in North Vietnam. They spoke the northern
dialect of Vietnamese and, although many are Catholics., they proved to be
responsive to Communist Viet Minh appeals that were made under the guise
of Vietnamese nationalism.
With a growing awareness and apprehensiveness of the political activ-
itiesof this refugee group, the Thai Government in 19+9 ordered the
Vietnamese refugees restricted to 13 border provinces (changwats):
Chiengrai, Nan, Uttaradit, Zoei, Buriram, Muang Ubon, Nong Khai, Nakhon
Phanom,Sisaket, Surin, Prachin Buri, Chanthaburi, and Trad. The refugees
were free to live anywhere within these provinces. A further concentration
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of the refugees was ordered in 1950 when the five provinces of Nong Khan.,
Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, and Prachin Buri were set aside
as.restricted areas for their settlements, but the implementation of the
1950 order has not been complete, and the refugees apparently are still
scattered throughout a much broader area of Northeast Thailand.
In 1953, when the Viet Minh forces penetrated deep into Laos, the
Thai Government was again deeply concerned and ordered the evacuation of
705 Vietnamese from the border areas adjacent to,Laos to the southern
province of Patthalung.
In June 1959, the Thai and North Vietnamese Red.Cross Societies signed
the Rangoon Agreement under which some 35,000 refugees in Thailand were
repatriated to North Vietnam. A new agreement to similarly repatriate all
of the remaining refugees was signed on 17 December 1962. The number of
refugees who still await repatriation is debatable -- estimates range
from 35,000.to 60,000. Figures by province, showing the numbers of Vietnam-
ese registered for repatriation, already repatriated, and remaining to be
repatriated as of August 1962 are shown in Table 1. The number remaining
for repatriation, by province, is also shown on Map 1.
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 LOCATION AND NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REGISTERED FOR REPATRIATION,
iIfkS R'nwrF1Wr1gs11t1KistAns~+yA1 ono7gTn~11-W JIa
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8
Chiengma6
SlAAl
i i
M A.L'A Y A
3 "Y Burin
Province (changwat) boundary
? Region boundary (non-administrative)
I.
ANG TNOPG
37.
2.
AYUTTHAYA
38.
3.
BURIRAM
39.
4,
OIA0KXNGSAo
40.
5.
OtANAT
41.
6.
OIAIYAMUM
42.
7.
OUNTHABURI
43.
8.
08ANG MAI
44.
9.
08AP1G RAJ
45.
10.
010N BURT
46.
I I.
081MPHON
47.
12.
KAIASN
48.
13.
KAMPHAB4G MET
49.
14.
KANOIANABIAa
50.
15.
KNON KAEN
51.
16.
KRABI
52.
17.
LAMPANG
53.
18.
LAMPHIN
54.
19.
LOB
55.
20.
LOP BURT
56.
21.
MAE HONG SON
57.
22.
MAMA SARAKNAM
58.
23.
NAKHON NAYOK
59.
24.
NAKICN PATHOM
60.
25.
NAKHON M ANOM
61.
26.
NAKI ON RATOIASIMA
62.
27.
NApgN SAWAN
63.
28.
NAKHON SI TNAMMARAT
64.
29.
NAN
65.
30
NARATHWAT
66.
31.
HONG KHAJ
67.
32.
NONTHABURJ
68.
33.
PATHIM THAN)
69.
34.
PATTAH
70
35.
36.
PPMAP
.
71.
300/0 9.512
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1 lMBSiM
0 50 100 150 Kilometers
Beundmier we not Aft. ,,iy dwee
recognized by tAe U.S. Goweamm".
Chumphon GULF 1 OF
MET 81181
PIETOIAM)4
PMONT
PHTSAP1l1LOK
MBTA NAKNON
PHRAE
PHIKET
PRACHN BURT
PRAOMAP KIMB KHAN
RAYONG
RAT BUR!
RAYONG
R01 ET
SAKON NAKHON
SAMUT WHOM
SAMUT SONGKHRAM
SAMUT PRAKAN
SARA BURT
SATUN
SING sum
SLSAKET
SONGKHIA
S1IKHOTIIAI
SUPHAN BURT
SURAT THAN
SURN
TAK
THON BURT
TRANG
TRAT
IRON
UDON THANI
UTHAI THANI
UTTARADIT
YAIA
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Repatriation of Vietnamese
June 1960-August 1962
Province
Total Number Registered
for Repatriation
4 June 1960
Number Repatriated
by
August 1962
Number Remaining
to be Repatriated
August 1962
Nong Khai
16,155
7,496
8,659
Nakhon Phanom
22,198
11,400
10,798
Sakon Nakhon
12,533
6,387
6,146
Surat Thani
213
51
162
Ubon
8,779
5,064
3,715
Prachin Buri
1,395
756
639
Patthalung
273
50
223
Udon Thani
8,541
3,563
4,978
(deported)
34
34
Total 70,121 34,801 35,320
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II. Proposed Relocation Areas
A. Basis for Selection of Areas
The proposed relocation Areas A and B are located in western Thailand
.and occupy parts of four provinces -- Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon?Sawan,
and Uthai Thani (see Map 2 for a schematic delineation of the areas and
thoe 6iX;'_, comprised.of topographic maps, which shows the component parts
of the relocation areas). They lie east of the major mountain ranges of
western Thailand, which would.serve as a security buffer zone between the
relocation site and the Thai-Burmese border. The selection of the areas
was based on the following considerations:
1. Sparse Population
The population density of this part of Thailand
is among the sparsest in the country (see Map 3).
Map 4 shows the distribution of population as of 1956,
when there were about 119,000 inhabitants in the more
than 3,000 square miles of the relocation areas,
making a density of only some 40 persons per square
mile. It is believed that movement of the refugees
to these areas would produce a minimal amount of eco-
nomic friction between the present population and the
Vietnamese. It also is believed that the religion of
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 Approved For Release E)Fm~T(YIA-kP79R 60AO-Ei 1-EY AMPHURS
1 Tak
2 Kamphoeng Phet
3 Nakon Sawan
4 Uthai Thani
Map 3
- CHANGWAD BOUNDARY
- AMPHUR BOUNDARY
Included when necessary to
separate different patterns
NOTE - ALL BOUNDARY LINES
HAVE BEEN GENERALIZED
POPULATION PER SQUARE KILOMETER
UNDER 25
25 - 49
50 - 99
100 -249
250 OR MORE
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE
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 SEc I
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(BASED ON 1956 CENSUS)
5,000
2,000
0 1,000
? 500
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Map 4
POPULATION DOl
MAP OF AREAS
A AND S
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the majority of the Vietnamese refugees, Catholicism,
would not necessarily be cause for hostility on the
part of the residents of the areas since they are
aware that both Thai and tribal people in northern
Thailand have benefitted from Christian missionary
activities. Presumably, the local residents would
be responsive to an advance public relations expla-
nation of the relocation project.
2. Availability of Unused Land
Much of the land in the proposed relocation areas
is still forested (see tI )c;Annex D). Most important,
however, is the fact that the areas are on or near the
Mae Nam Ping downstream from the Bhumipol Dam, the
huge multipurpose Yanhee Project dam that is in the
final stages of completion (see Map 2). The Thai
Royal Irrigation Department estimates that by using
the irrigation potential of this dam well over 1,000,000
rai (2-1/2 rai equal 1 acre) in Tak and Kamphaeng Phet
Provinces can be irrigated. With irrigation, two crops
of rice per year would be possible on much of the land.
In addition, the construction of small reservoirs by
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damming the mountain streams would permit the agricul-
tural use of many of the relatively broad, forest-covered
slopes that are transitional between the riverine lowlands
and the highlands that rise toward the Thai-Burmese border.
3. Transportation Facilities
The Tak area (Area A) is served by a main east-west
road, which connects the area with the Bangkok-Chiengmai
railroad at the town of Phitsanulok, and also a main
road that extends southeastward to Bangkok. A number
of tracks and trails branch off from the main roads. The
Tak Airfield has two runways, 4,100 feet long by 90 feet
wide and 3,600 feet long by 130 feet wide, which as of
December 1962 had oiled-gravel surfaces. Both runways
are capable of handling planes such as the C-47. The Mae
Nam Ping, which traverses Area A and joins the Menam Chao
Phraya just above Muang Nakhon Sawan, is navigable as far
as the town of Tak for vessels of 3-foot draft during high
water and for vessels of 2-foot draft during low water.
Unlike Area A, Area B lacks good access roads. If a
network of tracks were bulldozed into Area B. however,
future movement into it could be staged from Area A.
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4. Economic Aspects
The Vietnamese in Northeast Thailand are engaged
in a wide variety of economic pursuits, including
farming, fishing, lumbering, construction and mechan-
ical trades, tailoring, and shopkeeping. In addition,
there are a limited number of professional people, such
as doctors and engineers. Because the refugees are
adept as carpenters and mechanics, they reportedly mo-
nopolize the skilled labor force in some areas. Their
initiative and industriousness is attested.to by many
reports such as the following 1958 State Department
despatch which stated that in comparison to the Thai
settlements "a startling contrast was provided by the
settlements of the Vietnamese refugees who are very
profitably raising a wide variety of fruits.and vege-
tables for sale in Udorn (Udon Thani). Each small farm
has its own well, constructed by the Vietnamese farmers
themselves, along with a neat irrigation system".
Because of their skills.and their contribution to
the economy of Northeast Thailand, there has been some
apprehension that their removal would cause serious
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economic consequences in that area. There is little
doubt that there would be some deleterious effect,
but it would appear that, in view of the small pro-
portion of Vietnamese to the total provincial popu-
lations (see Table 2), most of the inhabitants must
presently receive only minimal economic benefits from
the presence of the Vietnamese. Therefore, it is
believed that the generally depressed economy of
Northeast Thailand would probably feel little lasting
impact from the removal of the Vietnamese refugees.
Total Population In Five Critical Provinces
and
Number of Vietnamese Remaining to be Repatriated
Number of Vietnamese Remaining
Province
Population
1960
to be Repatriated
August 1962
Nong Khai
256,530
8,659
Nakhon Phanom
1+36,482
10,798
Sakon Nakhon
426,755
6Y146
Ubon
1,130,712
3,715
Udon Thani
744,174
4,978
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B. Economic Suitability of the Relocation Areas
The soils of much of the area along the Mae Nam Ping are classified
as Khorat fine sandy loams, one of the soils found most extensively in
Thailand but also one of the most infertile. When the Bhumipol Dam was
proposed, the American soil expert, Robert Pendleton, advocated the
irrigation of these soils, pointing out that when they had been irrigated
these soils produced at least modest crops of rice and that they could
produce two crops annually. Much of the area of the Kamphang Petch
Irrigation Project (see Map 2) is comprised of these same soils, and
they also cover a large part of Area A to the north and west of the
Kamphang Petch as well as most of Area B. These areas appear irrigable
either from the Mae Nam Ping itself or from its tributaries. Until
the construction of permanent facilities for additional irrigation along
the Mae Nam Ping is completed, river barges with pumps might be used, as
was done temporarily on the Mun River in Northeast Thailand. With
adequate help in the beginning, the Vietnamese probably would be as
competent in the building of small reservoirs and secondary irrigation
systems, using water from the tributaries of the Mae Nam Ping, as they
were in Northeast Thailand.
In addition to rice, major crops of the area are corn, fiber plants
(kenaf and jute), and cotton. The Thai Government, in an attempt to
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increase diversification of agriculture, has encouraged the growing of
crops other than rice, and as a result, Thailand's production of corn,
for example, increased from 22,000 tons in 1950 to more than 550,000 tons
in 1960. The government might be persuaded to encourage the Vietnamese
to concentrate on growing crops such as corn for the first year or two at
least. Much of the corn in Thailand is grown on newly cleared forest
land, and thus the Vietnamese could have a cash crop and, at the same
time, would be clearing the land for future irrigation and rice culti-
vation. Pa Pae, the thin dwarfish open forest of deciduous hard woods
that is characteristically found on the Khorat soils, would apparently
be easy to clear by the traditional slash-and-burn method.
Based on a judgment made by the Director General of the Thai Depart-
ment of Public Welfare in 1958 concerning the amount of land given each
family at the pioneer resettlement project at Saraburi, it is thought
that each Vietnamese refugee family should be given at least 25 rai
(10 acres). Normally, 7-1/2 acres on a Thai farm would be in rice and
the remaining 2-1/2 acres in fruit trees or other crops. Assuming that
two crops of rice might be raised annually on irrigated land and that the
industriousness of the Vietnamese and their use of night soil might
increase the average production, it is possible that this estimate of the
amount of land required could be reduced somewhat. Assuming, however,
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that the 40,000 refugees represented 10,000 families and that the entire
number would engage in farming, the required land would represent an
aggregate of 100,000 acres or 156 square miles.
Excluding the moderately well-populated southern half of the part
of the Kamphang Fetch Irrigation Project that lies within Area A, the
present population density in the remaining 7/8 of Area A is only 17
people per square mile. If all the 40,000 refugees were located in this
part of Area A, the density would still be only 33 persons per square
mile. If only half of the refugees were placed in this part of Area A
the density in Area A would be about 25 persons per square mile; if the
other 20,000 refugees were relocated to Area B, the density there would
be about 38 persons per square mile.
As noted earlier, a substantial number of Vietnamese are engaged in
the lumber industry in Northeast Thailand. This capability might be put
to good use along the Mae Nam Ping, which traditionally has been a main
artery for the movement of teak from northern Thailand to Bangkok. It
is entirely possible that a significant number of the refugees could
find employment in the teak industry. The expansion of the irrigation
and power facilities of the Bhumipol Dam and the consequent growth of the
area promise to create a need for the skills of many of the refugees.
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C. Comments on Other Potential Relocation Areas (see Map 2)
1. Pulao Terutao
It has been reported that the island of Terutao, in the Strait of
Malacca just north of the Malayan boundary, has been considered by
various Thai officials.as a possible relocation area for the Vietnamese
refugees. Terutao is about 16 miles long, has a maximum width of 6-112
miles, and is sparsely populated. Its major disadvantages are its dense
rain forest, which would be expensive to clear, and more important, its
proximity to the dissident area along the Thai-Malay border. Conceivably,
if the Communist-influenced Vietnamese refugees were settled here, the
island could become a Communist stronghold and present to Thailand many
of the same problems that the island of Phu Quoc presents to the Govern-
ment of South Vietnam.
2. Ko Samui and Ko Phangan
Ko Samui, with a population of 31,000 in 1960, is apparently already
overpopulated. In.1957 the inhabitants of the island petitioned the Thai
Government for permission to settle their surplus population on the
surrounding smaller islands. These small islands, including Ko Phangan,
however, represent sources of significant revenue to the Thai Government
because Chinese businessmen have concessions to gather swallow nests from
which a Chinese delicacy is made. Encroachment of more population on the
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islands would eliminate the swallows and thus eliminate the revenue that
is now collected by the Thai Government.
3. Southeastern Thailand
Although some Vietnamese refugees are now settled in southeastern
Thailand and additional numbers might be physically accommodated there,
the troubled relationships between Thailand and Cambodia and the con-
sequent security considerations rule out this area for the present as a
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III. Estimated Costs of Relocation
A. General Considerations
For costing purposes, only Area A of the two areas delineated on
Map 2 as possible relocation areas has been considered.in this report.
However, estimated cost figures of resettlement for Area A, which is
served by a fairly good road, also would be applicable to Area B with
the addition of the costs of bulldozing tracks into it. Both areas can
be served from the railroad station at Muang Nakhon Sawan. The entire
relocation program should be carried out in dry weather to eliminate
the possibility of flooded roads and disrupted train service, as well
as the need for extensive staging areas that would require the con-
struction of covered overnight accommodations.
The total cost of resettling the 40,000 refugees* has been esti-
mated at about US $700,000** -- excluding all administrative and super-
visory expenses, new road construction costs (if any), costs of irri-
gation projects at the new locations, and costs to the Thai economy of
* For costing purposes, the number of Vietnamese to be relocated was
estimated at 40,000 (rather than the 35,320 reported remaining for
repatriation as of August 1962), geographically distributed in about the
same ratio as the latter figure.
X Conversion was made at 21 baht to the US dollar.
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possible disruption in regularly scheduled rail service resulting from
the move.
Estimated costs were computed as follows:
Initial transport from home to rail station
66,000
Rail fare
136,000
Meals and lodging
78,9000
Transport by truck from rail station to Area A
77,000
Relief fund
332,000
TOTAL us $689,ooo
Unless housing construction is completed in Area A prior to the
arrival of the refugees, considerable additional sums will have to be
expended on the construction of temporary staging facilities in Area A
to accommodate the Vietnamese until the permanent quarters are completed.
B. Costs of Resettlement
1. Transport from Homes to Railroad Stations
One of the major problems will be in arranging for transport from
the refugees' homes to the province center, the recommended central meet-
ing point. A previous Thai study indicates that an average of about 10
baht per person will cover this initial transport cost. The total cost
for this initial move -- from the home to the province center -- is
estimated at about US $20,000.
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S-E-C-R-E-T
Truck transport from the province centers to the nearest railroad
stations will be necessary only for the refugees who are located in Nakhon
Phanom and Sakon Nakhon"Provinces, where there are no railroads. The
other province centers are served by railroads. The road to be used is
from Muang Nakhon Phanom via Muang Sakon Nakhon to Udon Thani, a distance
of 134 miles. If truck transport costs average 8 baht per mile round
trip and each truck hauls 20 people per trip, the total cost for truck
transport may be estimated as follows:
Transported
To
Number of From Railroad Distance Total Cost
Refugees Province Center Station (in miles) (in US dollars)
7,160 Muang Sakon Udon 80 12,000
Nakhon Thani
12,600 Muang Nakhon Udon 134 32,000
Phanom Thani
TOTAL US $44,000
All these refugees from Muang Sakon Nakhon and Muang Nakhon Phanom
probably could be hauled to the railroad station at Udon Thani in.30 days
by using 42 trucks. Because of the distances involved and the poor con-
dition of the roads, each truck probably would need 2 days to make a round
trip.
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S-E-C-R-E-T
If trucks were necessary to move the 4,320 refugees in Ubon Province
from their homes to the railroad station in Muang Ubon, the estimated
average transport cost of 10 baht per person would just about double.
Instead of costing an estimated US $2,000, the initial transport cost
for trucking the 4,320 refugees into Muang Ubon would rise to US $4,000.
These costs are based on an average haulage distance of 40 miles, a load
per truck of 20 people, and a round trip cost of 8 baht per mile.
2. Rail Transport from Provincial Railheads to Muang Nakhon Sawan
Although separate railroads serve Muang Ubon in the east and Nong Khai
and Udon Thani in the north, both railroads meet at Nakhon Ratchasima.
Conducting relocation operations in these two areas simultaneously would
be troublesome. Costs.and possibilities of misunderstandings probably
would greatly increase because special trains would have to be added at
Nakhon Ratchasima to handle the increased loads. This would necessitate
rescheduling of trains and could cause setbacks in other sectors of the
economy. Thailand does not have enough efficient locomotives or passenger
cars to handle the increased. loads without some rescheduling. Simultaneous
relocation operations also would require the construction of extensive
staging facilities at Nakhon Ratchasima in order to handle both housing
and.feeding for a period of several days to permit orderly departures by
rail.
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S-E-C-R-E-T
Although current train schedules should be adhered to as closely as
possible, not all of the scheduled trains are suitable. Trains that are
scheduled for long layovers should be avoided. Four trains depart from
Nong Khai and Udon Thani daily, only two of which are through trains;
the others require long layovers at various places along the route. Two
trains depart from Muang Ubon daily, but only one is a through train.
It will be necessary to add additional passenger cars to the scheduled
trains, but such additions. should be kept to a minimum. It would require
30 days -- the same amount of time as allowed for trucking the refugees
into the area -- to transport the approximate 36,000 refugees from Nong
Khai and Udon Thani on the two recommended through trains on a basis of
10 passenger cars per train loaded with 60 refugees per car transporting
1,200 refugees per day. Reportedly each car has a capacity for trans-
porting 72 people. By allowing only 60 refugees per car there will be
sufficient space for excess baggage.
Transporting the refugees by train from Muang Ubon on the one
recommended daily through train, within the 11-day period required to
truck them into the station, means transporting about 400 refugees per
day by rail. This would require 7 passenger cars.
Table 3, following page 21, summarizes available scheduled trains for
transporting the Vietnamese refugees to Muang Nakhon Sawan, in the vicinity
of Area A, and provides estimates of the amounts needed for train fares.
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 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1018A000400130001-6
A feeding allowance of 5 baht per person per day is considered adequate.
At this rate the total feeding allowance has been estimated at US $58,000.
In addition to providing feeding facilities at the starting points of
Muang Nakhon Phanom, Muang Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, and Muang
Ubon, and the terminus at Muang Nakhon Sawan, feeding facilities should
also be provided at Ban Phachi where, according to train schedules, the
refugees will have a layover of approximately 2 hours.
Reportedly, temporary quarters can be constructed at 2 baht per person.
Since one night is spent aboard the train, accommodations for only 5
nights need to be accounted for. At the above rate the estimated cost
of constructing overnight lodging facilities is about US $20,000.
5. Cost of Relief Fund
For costing purposes, each Vietnamese family is estimated to consist
of an average of 4.6 people. On this basis, there are roughly 8,700
families to be resettled. A relief fund of 800 baht per family. for
building materials, tools, and other needs is deemed sufficient. At
this rate an estimated US $332,000 will be needed for relief.
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 THAIL40oved For Release 2000/05/12: CIA-RDP79TO1018A000400130001-6
I SUMATRA
I D 0 N E S I A
.uoo n.a .o.; sA,
TERRAIN AND TRANSPORTATION
LOCATION OF PROPOSED RELOCATION
AREAS A AND B
-
-
International boundary
-
Selected main road
?
National capital
-----
Selected secondary road
S
Principal port
---~-
Railroad
t
Principal airfield
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 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79T01018A000400130001-6
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
SECRET,
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
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 Approved For Relea000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79T01018A00030001-6
CENRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Geography Divisionp ORR
10 Subject of Proposed Protect.- Relocation of Vietnamesje Refugees in
& aat Th..a.iland@
Project Initiation Memorandum
Project Mo.: 61.2171
25 June 2.963
2u Statement of Probleu To prepTre a study of probler.te that iiau .d be
ountea ed rX% tae possibl,.e relocation of VIB gin, se kefvgeee now
resident in Northeast Thailand to less aensitivve areas of the cot~ strcy0
(See attached mem ?andu of request, which includes guideline trine
of reference. )
3. Requesters Chief FE/DDD/P
54 Cooperation Desired Prow s
GO/E 25X1A
a0 Other Divisions of G S Supporting yaps to be prepared by fl/CC0
b0 weer P is of Cis R c r~e$ o s enr C) R0 Co~ox t i~~
nation -N ORR and OCL. Possible photo interpretation support
from PID/NPIC 0
6. Estimated Man hours in P 0G . 150 7. L Date- 2l July 1963
SENSITIVE
10o Cetu s s a0 P ?eli aina v disco slon: were held irrlth
V Dire ions concerning the guideline ter,-as of refsrences on 2 . June 63
b0 G/1RI has been advised of estimated comlilo-tion deft.
plus necessary record copies.
80 Form of Final. Pub icationg. CIA/RR (15
90 Recommendations for Distribution of Finished Report-. Requester only,
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Excluded ?e ii automatic down-
d n and declassification
 Approved For Relea,000/05/12: CIA-RDP79TO1018A000 30001-6
. if
RZ1[OR NDUI : =PUTT DIX== (INTaLLIG=Cjj)
VIA DZPUTY DID (PLANS)
$UBJZCT Relocation of Vietnam*** refugees
in Northeasthu hailand
1. The assistance of IM/I is requested in conducting
research on the attendant problems involved in the possible
relocation of approximately 40,000 Vietnamese refugees
currently residing in Northeast Thailand to less sensitive
areas of the country.
2. BA( [GRODIM. 25X1 A
threat the Far last Division are
-- and
concerned over the security
the continued presence in the criticaleAArea of Northeastough
Thailand of over 40,000 Vietnamese refugees. reportedly hold allegiance to North Vietnam and Theme refugees
are well
controlled and indoctrinated by the DIV.
constitute an exploitable cadre for They Insurg
in the Northeast. The Thai Governmenr subversion number of yearsy
s
attempted to solve this problem, including token resettlem pt
of several Vietnamese villages in Southern Thailand and
appeals to SYN to kept the repatriation of these refugees.
In 1959, the That Government entered into a repatriation
agreement with the DRY, under the auspices-of the Red Cross,
through which approximately 35,000 of these refugees
repatriated to North Vietnam. A second Thai/DRY atrwere
iation
agreement went into effect in Parch 1963 under which 600 a mouth viet-gofsthe ?ituationl in ~necighborin are to be repatriated. In
increasing subversion in the Northeastt,itais apparent that
this prolonged repatriation program permits the threat to
continue in being in this critical area for some time to come.
25X1C 3. PRO:
25X1 C
In seeking possible solutions to this proble
considerati is being given to developing a plan
whereby these refugees would be resettled in
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 Approved For Relea 000/05/12: CIA-RDP79TO1018A000 1300
less sensitive areas of Thailand. Tb prepare a realistic
and effective plan, a feasibility survey is required touching
on the various political, economic and social problems-involved
in resettlement. Ia/I's aasistaace is therefore requested in
preparing this feasibility study. To assist DD/I, the follow-
ing specific questions, which among others that nay occur to
ED/I, should be considered-in this study:
a. What areas of Thailand would accommodate and
su rt ro ? naarese refugees? nce
Internal security s one of pr cons era ion~in
resettlement, it has been suggested that the =anchanaburi
and Tat areas of western Thailand or one of the islands in
the Gulf ofaian (Rho laauii or Mw Phan an). offer secure
resettlement areas. These areas are removed from sensitive
border areas and the islands particularly simplify the
security control problem.
/ (1) would the area snpMt, the refugees
economical a a tp of arable
an crops can be produced? What natural
resources are exploitable? What is the availability
of water? what is the present population density of
the areal would this-present population have to be
resettled also? Are the communications facilities of
the area (roads,. railroads, waterways) adequate forr
an addition to the population of the sine. envisaged.
V (2) What would be the economic impact on the
area if the re s were reimUll in the area
nn the n e genre ousness o e
Vietnamese, what effect would their presence have on
the local economy vis-a-vis local inhabitants?
./ (3) .What would be the political Impact on the
area if the re were resettled In the area
111116aiden ? c an cultural erences the refugees
would impose on the area, religion (the preponderance
of the Yietnamesp are Doman Catholics) would. also
create areas of 'possible social friction with the
local populace.
(4) What other considerations should be
explored in se ?c ng.a suitable re oca on area?
SECHE'r
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b. What extrapolations can be lade as to t"e
opulation wrowin o ese 40.000 refugees based c:. current
group in arc , it 600 are repatriated
per month
starting in March 1963?
co what would-be the political economic and social
impact on those areas o The Northeast where he Yi naanese
s~ ~ r r
(1) what would be the political impact of
resettlement on the local Thai population? Has
intermarriage, economic dependence, etc. caused such
bonds between the refugees and the local Thai/Laos
population as to result in unfavorable. local reaction
to the resettlement?
(2) That effect would the removal of the refugees
have on the economic structure and balance in these
areas? Since the refugees represent the bulk of the
economic vitality in these areas (farming, shopkeepers,
mechanics, tailors, dressmakers, etc.), would their
removal create an economic vacuum?
d.? - What are some of the attendant problems involved
in r ocating- resettling a population ?o this s In
Thailand? a phasing should considered in such 4 pan?
Ifiat s aging facilities would be required to hove the
population from- the Northeast to other areas? What are some
of the provisions that should be made for the feeding,
housing and care of the refugees before, during and after
relocation? I. it possible to arrive at an approximation
as to what such a relocation would cost directly?
4. Inquiries regaxding?this request should be directed to
Zxtension 6129.
25X1A
Richard Helms
DDP 3
uat
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_jW 0
SELECTED FACTORS AFFECTING RELOCATION OF THE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES-OF NORTHEAST. THAILAND-
CIA/RR GS 63-]J. 61.2171
Chief.,. FE/DD/P
25X1A - GG/F
SECRET
,NO._FUREIGN D]SSEM ,
SSENS'INE
Requester
Ch/G
Approved FbrTR(eleaseOeb012~IFlD1~`!9 ~~u0~0130;6;~
* Only two copies of Annex (under separate cover) -- 1 to requester;