GPS 230

CLASSIFIED

L

FM JAKARTA 159539Z MAR 79

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 91 OF 15 MARCH

Nick swoll

*

19 MAR 1979

INFO BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, MANILA AND UKMIS GENEVA.

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PA

ва

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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No po.3

FOLLOWING THE VISIT TO INDONESIA OF UNHCR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

DE HAAN, FOREIGN MINISTER MOCHTAR ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT

AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED WITH UNHCR ON THE DETAILED CONDITIONS

OF THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT'S OFFER OF AN ISLAND PROCESSING

CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. HE SAID THAT INDONESIA WOULD

RETAIN SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ISLAND AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS

SECURITY AND GOVERMENT, WHILE UNHCR WOULD UNDERTAKE TO MANAGE THE REFUGEE CENTRE AND BEAR ALL COSTS INVOLVED. HE SAID THE CENTRE WOULD BE TEMPORARY (3 TO 5 YEARS).

2. IT IS STILL NOT CLEAR WHICH ISLAND WILL BE USED, MOCHTAR -SAID THAT SEVERAL WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING THREE IN THE

RIAU ARCHIPELAGO., THE REFUGEE CENTRE, HE SAID, WOULD NEED TO

BE NEAR A QUOTE CITY WITH AN AIRPORT UNQUOTE BUT REMOVED FROM

ANY LARGE CENTRE OF POPULATION. TANJUNGPINANG ON BINTAN ISLAND

MAY JUST QUALIFY AS A QUOTE CITY UNQUOTE, BUT THERE IS PERHAPS STILL A POSIBILITY THAT THE CENTRE WILL BE SITUATED ON PULAU LAUT NEAR PONTIANAK IN WEST KALIMANTAN. BOTH TOWNS HAVE SMALL

AIRPORTS.

3.

MOCHTAR WILL BE TRAVELLING TO GENEVA ON 22 MARCH FOR FURTHER TALKS WITH UNHCR AND A MEETING OF ASEAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES

ACCEPTING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IS TO BE HELD IN APRIL OR MAY, PROBABLY IN JAKARTA, TO TIE UP THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISLAND.

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HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

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