Hmong refugees holding camp in Ban Huay Nam Khao, Phetchabun, Thailand

Thailand's Human Rights Commission says it will look for ways to assist the Hmong refugees currently being held in a temporary holding center at Ban Huay Nam khao in Phetchabun province.

The Commission, who recently visited the refugees at Ban Huay Nam Khao, added that it will request the United States and the United Nationsto to accept for resettlement those Hmongs who do not want to return to Laos.

The Thai human rights group had never before shown interest in the

Hmong refugees

plight of the almost 8,000 refugees in Phetchabun province. So it is unclear whether its decision will have any effect on the plan by the Thai and Lao governments to repatriate all the refugees to Laos by the end of 2008.

Listen to our Laos Today report for more details in Lao.