impossible to reduce the numbers of refugees in the various
holding centres. In fact, it is phenomenal that during the past
six-year period this
the first time that the number of
refugees remaining in the camps at the end of 1985 was larger
In 1985 the number was
130, 413
is
than that at the end of 1984.
compared with 128,439 in 1984.
restriction of individual freedoms and
State
Governments,
of
and
The exodus of people from their own homelands during the whole of
last year was caused partially by economic difficulties but the
human rights by the
various Indochina
including the use
Vietnamese forces to occupy Kampuchea and to dominate Laos, has
forced their citizens to flee to other countries. These persons
have lost not only their possessions and means of livelihood
support for their families but they have had to disperse and
separate
from each other and even to desert the graves of their
ancestors in a pitiful search for new destinies abroad.
Therefore, as long as the governments of Indochina fail to give
real cooperation in solving this problem, the consequence
only be that these people continue to have the status of
displaced persons, which 1S most deplorable since it Can be
beloved
1.
*
described as a violation of the United Nations Declaration
can
of
Human Rights and International Law.
Governments have
Besides ignoring appeals for cooperation, the Indochina State
sent troops to carry out wanton slaughter of
displaced persons. In an attack which took place on 28 May 1966,
Vietnamese forces fired artillery shells into the vicinity of
Site 8, causing the deaths of 11 Ahmer displaced persons and
injury to about 50 others. On 11 June 1986, the Vietnamese shot
mortar 60 and mortar 82 shells into the camp for Khmer orphans at
Thao Larn. Trad Province, destroying buildings and various other
-2-
to