Informal Working Paper
Confidential
QUESTIONS RELATING TO SPECIAL PROCESSING CENTRE(S)
IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
1.
Malaysian proposal
The question of establishing a special centre in South East Asia, from where refugees and displaced persons could be processed for resettle- ment in an orderly way, has been raised from time to time more especially since the dramatic increase in problems in the latter months of 1978. Thus, during the Consultations in Geneva on 11-12 December 1978, the Malaysian delegate (Tan Sri (hazali Shafie) proposed that such a centre (or centres) be established, possibly on an island, from where refugees would be processed for onward movement within a specific time scale, against guarantees that there would be no residual problem. It was felt that the proposal should be further studied by governments.
2.
The Malaysian proposal was welcomed by other ASEAN delegations. The Indonesian representative (Mr. Suryo) stated that his government would be prepared to co-operate in a scheme requiring the establishment of a "staging post", on the understanding that resettlement countries undertook to accept all the applicants within a specific time-limit. The Thai delegate (Air Marshal Savetsila) added that the arrangement should not be limited to "boat cases", but should also include "land cases". The Malaysian delegate, responding to the Thai suggestion, also emphasized that "land cases", who desired to be expatriated to third countries, should not be excluded from the proposed arrangement.
3.
Since the Consultations, while the question of such a centre has featured in press reports, notably in connexion with the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers held in Bangkok on 12-13 January, no specific proposal has yet been made as to where, precisely, the centre should be located. Nor have any other details been communicated by governments of the region.
4.
Working on the basis, however, of comments made during the Consultations, the ASEAN proposal would, as presently conceived, require:
(i)
the offer of a specific site;
(ii) guarantees that there would be no "residual" cases left on such
a site;