iscuss.
know of no occasion since the foundation of the
United Nations in which a country has acted with such callous ndifference both to a large sector of its own population and
to the international community. The rest of the world has to
This is why we face the consequences of Vietnam's policies.
are all here in Geneva.
Many of us have seen with our own eyes the reality of
the crisis, and the sufferings of the countless innocent victims. You yourself saw the plight of those who awaited
resettlement in Thailand after crossing the land frontiers
I have with Laos and Kampuchea in their tens of thousands. just returned from Hong Kong, where over sixty five thousand more innocent people have found temporary sanctuary after berilous journeys in overcrowded and unseaworthy craft. international attention is concentrated on the boat refugee
We must none of us problem, which shows no sign of abating. forget the waves of people who have fled on foot from the oppressions and suffering in Indo-China to seek refuge in
neighbouring countries.
4.
Much
This meeting is concerned with the humanitarian aspects
the international commu of the crisis which faces us. The root causes are known to
us.
The world looks to Vietnam to stop the political and
economic pressure on sections of their own population, which compel these unfortunate people to choose to risk their lives untide their any country)
in appalling conditions in search of a new life Possibly twice as many people have died on the way as have reached any shore in Asia. If this is correct, then every six weeks the equivalent of the population of the City of Geneva dies at sea
Meanwhile the world has no option but to meet their
responsibilities to their fellow men, and to make such
/contributions
The world must be under no misapprehension. All the people
who are forced
out of Vietnam
in small boats are made to do so under the authority of the Vietnamese Government which alone carries the terrible responsibility for the thousands of deaths that
ensue.