E/CN.4/1503 page 56

It

122. Firstly, there is an obvious lack of contact in man-made

exodus situations between the authorities of the country of origin and those of the country (or countries) of asylum. would appear that those who leave are "written off" by their

government, more often than not being labelled as traitors,

criminals, undesirables, subversives or, at best, misguided elements, while the receiving government is left to handle

matters. To be sure, when political circumstances change

and negotiated settlements can be initiated, bilateral talks

are a prelude to any mass repatriation. Governments seldom

get together whilst the exodus is underway, however, and indeed they may not even

even be enjoying normal diplomatic re- lations at the time which would permit them to do so.

123. As a result, the receiving countries with the help of international agencies mount relief and resettlement operations which may develop and grow in a vacuum without any relation to, or detailed knowledge of, the origins or causes of the problem or its likely resolution. Relief agencies, whether they be intergovernmental or non-governmental, continue to refrain from going far into the background to mass movements on the grounds that they have a humanitarian mandate to

to fulfil

cannot concern themselves with controversial matters, usually of a political nature.

and

124. Thus the need for meaningful dialogue with those princi- pally responsible on how to contain the problem remains unmet. Even if the countries of origin should offer a version of the causes which trigger movement which

which some might qualify as slanted, their responsibility towards their own nationals needs to be upheld particularly if there is a danger of economic and social disruption in the receiving country and the under- mining of peaceful relations between States which share

common border.

125.

fin:

abo

"lat

anc

ecol

we

thr

rec

int

for

So,

use

126

whe

apr

of

san

hel

mer

ste

ot!

in

ve:

CO1

ta

12

up

te

by

Share This Page