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the
Houbmit
Your reference
S T Nash Esa
SEAD
FCO
HKK 243/3
Our reference
Date
UN 243/5
14/7
8 July 1986
(125
Dear Stephen,
2 1 JUL 1986
Y
sen
UNHCR OPEN HOUSE: 5 JUNE; INFORMAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EXCOM) MEETING: 13 JUNE THAI ANTI-PIRACY PROGRAMME; ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME; PAPUA NEW GUINEA)
1.
The UNHCR Bureau for Asia and Oceania, in introducing their report at the UNHCR Open House on 5 June, indicated that their main preoccupations in their area were the Indo-Chinese refugees and refugees in Papua New Guinea. I have already reported in general on the former. This letter gives, by subject heading, their report on the three specific programmes not included in my earlier letter and reports the follow-up discussion at the 13 June informal Excom meeting.
Papua New Guinea
2. The Bureau reported that the Papua New Guinea Government had decided to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention.
UNHCR were
in negotiation with the Indonesian and Papua New Guinea Governments to see if the programe of voluntary repatriation could be increased
over the last four months, 400 persons had returned voluntarily.
3. This subject was not discussed further.
Thai Anti-Piracy Programme
I attach a
4. The Bureau's report on 5 June added nothing new. copy of the UK statement made at the informal EXCOM meeting on 13 June, which includes reference to both the Anti-Piracy Programme and the Orderly Departure Programme.
5.
Thailand responded to the UK's comments about the effectiveness of the Anti-Piracy Programme by stating that piracy was a crime against humanity and it occurred in the Gulf of Thailand which consisted of the territorial waters of Thailand and of neighbouring countries; there had been an actual reduction in acts of crime in the territorial waters in which the Royal Thai Navy had responsibility and a number of captured pirates had been brought to trial. Thailand suggested that reports should mention where and when each attack took place. (Comment: I took this to refer to the Assessment Team's Report). Reference was also made to the fact that the Thai government had paid for the programme
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