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xi) The question of increasing the numbers allowed into the United Kinddom would have to be considered in relation to overall diplomatic policy. At present there was a quota for the Vietnamese boat people only, not for refugees from Cam-
odia and Laos.
The Government had already been asked to increase the numbers to be admitted; a further approach should be made.
Lord Elton. then arrived and explained the purpose of the Debate on December 12 in the House of Lords to bring the situation to the attention of the general public and to urge the Goverment to extend the aid it was already giving and to increase support of the UNHCR. He had himself recently visited Aranyaprathet Camp in Thailand, where there were now some 7000 refugees, mainly Cambodian, in accommodation intended for 4000. There were serious problems, such as sanitation, water supply, etc caused by this overcrowding.
Lord Elton assessed the immediate needs as
a) improvement of medical and general welfare facilities in the camps for those awaiting resettlement.
b)
c)
offers of resettlement in other countries.
resettlement in Thailand; the Thai Government would not resettle until some assurance was received that substantial numbers would be settled elsewhere and that the large influx of new refugees would not be continued.
d)
return.
assurance of safe custody for voluntary repatriation of those willing to
Recently there had been attempts by the Thai Government to restrict entry. The Thai navy was sending some refugees back and Thais found not passing on information about those entering illegally were being fined or imprisoned.
It was agreed that Lord Elton should be asked to include the following points in the debate:
H. M. Government to be asked:-
a) to help on a short-term basis by giving practical aid in the refugee camps e.g. in the provision of adequate wells in Aranyaprathet camp. This aid could be given through the voluntary organisations or through the UNHCR.
b) to try, through UNHCR and other international sources and other means, to put pressure on the Thai Government to prevent them sending refugees back to Cambodia Laos or Vietnam.
c) to use its influence with the EEC countries to urge them to take more refugees from Thailand.
a) to consider increasing the quota of Indo-Chinese refugees from Thailand, the new programme to include Cambodians and Laotians. The present "quota" of 116 places for Vietnamese boat people had almost been filled.
Thanks were expressed to Lord Elton for initiating the Debate and for asking for the views of the voluntary agencies working in Thailand.
Major Fonseca referred to the work of Save the Children Fund which had five locally recruited and one-expatriate medical team working in Thailand both with refugees and Thal children. Lord Gore-Booth who would be taking part in the Debate had already been briefed.
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