UN General Assembly
1982

Kingdom of Thailand, which has carried a very heavy burden in the name of duty to humanity in granting a haven of refuge and protection against threats to hundreds of thousands of our compatriots who fled slavery, misery and death. I thank equally, with all my heart, the other countries of ASEAN for their active support and their diplomatic and other assistance to our cause. 48. I salute also the other States which have welcomed a large number of our refugees and permitted them to escape despair, as well as the many countries which have made generous gifts and given assistance from which our compatriots have benefited and benefit today. At the same time, I salute and thank the Secretary-General, the International Red Cross, UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations for all they have done, are doing and will be doing for our refugees and other compatriots in their need. 49. I respect the Vietnamese people, dragged against their will into a colonialist adventure, although for many years now they have found themselves plunged into difficulties without