offering generous aid.
14. Angola spoke about the complexity of refugee problems and their political and sociological causes. Amongst these they listed armed conflict, wars, exploitation, racialism and poor socio-economic conditions. They stated that it was important that aid for refugees must reach their target. They severely criticised South African attacks on refugee camps and Such the role of apartheid in destablilising Southern Africa. root causes of refugee flows could only be tackled by diplomatic moves to remove apartheid. They severely condemned military attacks on refugee camps in Angola.
15. Rwanda explained the reasoning behind the statement issued by the Central Committee of the National Revolutionary Movement for Development concerning the situation of Rwandan refugees outside Rwanda. This they blamed on the economic situation and population density in Rwanda stating that they were absolutely unable to face a mass return of Rwandan refugees from neighbouring countries. However Rwanda would continue to examine sympathetically requests for individual repatriation.
16. Democratic Kampuchea condemned attacks on refugee camps. Attacks on civilians whose sole crime had been not to accept occupation of their country were totally illegal. The settlement of 700,000 Vietnamese in Cambodia was the equivalent of modern day colonisation. The Vietnamese may call them repatriated Cambodians from Vietnam but this was simply not true. Democratic Kampuchea thanked Asean, especially Thailand, for all they had done in respect to refugees from Cambodia.
17.
18.
Chile expressed general support for the works of UNHCR.
Peru regretted that no consensus had yet been reached on military and armed attacks on refugee camps. Refugee camps must be kept free from politicisation and should where necessary be converted to purely civilian status. Peru also stated that we must seek more accessions to the convention and protocol. Voluntary repatriation was the most effective solution to refugee problems and local integration the next preferable solution. Peru supported the reorganisation of UNHCR especially the new office for Latin America.
19.
The League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that they had a mandate to at all times be ready to assist and to protect refugees, displaced persons and returnees. They wished to do this in cooperation with the UNHCR and the ICRC.
20. The World Muslim Congress stated that EXCOM ought to revise legal instruments to protect the rights of refugees. They stressed the need for self reliance programmes, durable political solutions and action against aggressors.
lative
MT Trevan
10 October 1986