This past weekend, Laos demanded Thailand honour a December 2006 bilateral repatriation agreement and deport the group.

The repatriation of the group planned for January 30 had to be aborted.

The Hmong - including one newborn infant - are housed in a Nong Khai detention centre. The group is resisting deportation and has threatened to commit mass suicide.

On January 30, Hmong women and children were seen being dragged on to buses and lorries. The men tied themselves to detention-centre cell bars.

Laos said Thailand was "ill prepared" to process the group and blamed the intervention of third parties for the aborted repatriation.

"The Lao side requests Thailand continue to ready the group for repatriation and ensure the security of Lao officials who will accompany the group," Laos foreign ministry spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy said in a statement.

Yong issued the statement after Bangkok said it would not force the Hmong home against their will. It will seek third party resettlement.

The Foreign Ministry said earlier Western countries including the United States, Australia and Canada were prepared to accept the group.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has granted the group protection and declared it "persons of concern". It has not provided food and shelter for them.

Members of the group were arrested for illegal entry on November 17 after they escaped from a Ban Huay Nam Khao, Phetchabun shelter.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation