yet there was still no screening process under the auspices of UNHCR ensure that all those who wish to remain in PNG are allowed to do
to
So.
Stephan Sinclair Loutit (UNHCR) reported that UNHCR was very much in favour of instituting a screeing process and was continously raising this with the PNG Government which has assured them that it will be set up with UNHCR's full participation. He noted that accession to
the UN Convention would inevitably take some time but UNHCR was obviously keen to see this done as soon as possible. With regard to the repatriations mentioned, he said that UNHCR had been able to verify that the departures were, indeed, voluntary and should, therefore, be welcomed. It also lent credence to the notion that once a proper screeening process was instituted, many more refugees might elect to return also. He was not sure of how it had been verified that the returns were voluntary and agreed to find out more information on the circumstances of the returns.
The Committee AGREED to seek further information on the events described by TAPOL from UNHCR and to ask whether it was believed that those refugees who returned knew what they were being returned to. It was agreed to be important to keep this situation under a close watch and to write to the High Commissioner in Port Moresby again appropriate following the information received from UNHCR.
6.
REFUGEES IN THAILAND
if
Martin Lee (Christian Outreach) gave a short report to bring the Committee up to date on developments in Thailand, noting that the situation was becoming even more confusing with so many different categories of refugees.
as the
for
The Committee felt that it would be an appropriate time now, subject of refugees in Thailand, especially those on the Thai/Cambodia border, had been under discussion by the Committee some time, to convene a small meeting to look in detail at this situation and make some recommendations for action. It was noted that this could be a good time to make some recommendations regarding an international initiative as the new UN High Commissioner, Mr. Hocke, had a great deal of personal experience in this area and it could be useful to let him know that people were still concerned about these
issues.
It was AGREED that a small working group of those particularly interested and involved should be convened to review the situation in detail, to consider an approach to the UN High Commissioner and to consider whether it would be appropriate to have a meeting with the Thai Ambassador in the UK to discuss questions such as exit visas for refugees with entry visas to other countries.
7. UNA/UNHCR CAMPAIGN
The Chairman reported that the United Nations Association had been approached by UNHCR to run a fundraising and educational campaign in Britain to be publicly launched towards the end of June this year. As Chairman of UNA, he reported on the various initiatives that were being taken in regard to the campaign and described several specific