481
RESTRICTED
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
HKD 243/RHIAN
RECO
036154
MRHIAN 6574
RESTRICTED
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 382
OF 08150OZ JULY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, HONG KONG
1 1 JUL 1988
DESS
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, JARKARTA, MANILA INFO SAVING CANBERRA, OTTAWA, TOKYO, BANDAR SERI BAGAWAN
(+60)
MY TEL 372: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: UNHCR TALKS WITH VIETNAM
1. UNHCR HAVE ACCEPTED VIETNAM'S INVITATION FOR BILATERAL TALKS IN HANOI ON 14/15 JULY. TEAM WILL BE LED BY HEAD OF ASIA BUREAU, VIEIRA DE MELLO, ASSISTED BY BAYANDOR (WHO WILL TRAVEL FROM HONG KONG ON 13 JULY). THEY WILL CONTACT BRITISH EMBASSY.
2. UNCHR IS ANXIOUS TO KEEP IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH US ON DISCUSSIONS
WITH VIETNAM. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE USEFUL TO HAVE, DESKBY 111200Z, GUIDANCE ON LINE WE INTEND TO TAKE WITH VIETNAM. THIS WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPARE NOTES WITH VIEIRA DE MELLO
BEFORE HE LEAVES FOR HANOI LATER ON 11 JULY.
3. ON 7 JULY RAFEEUDDIN AHMED TOLD ME THAT HE HAD STRESSED THREE POINTS WITH VIETNAM AUTHORITIES. FIRST, THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF RETURNING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE MUST BE GUARANTEED. SECOND, THERE MUST BE SUITABLE MONITORING OF RETURNEES IN THEIR VILLAGES TO ENSURE THEY WERE NOT VICTIMISED. THIRD, THERE MUST ALSO BE MONITORING OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS PROVIDED FOR RESETTLEMENT PURPOSES.
4. AHMED COMMENTED THAT MANY BOAT PEOPLE HAD SOLD THEIR LAND, HOUSE AND OTHER POSSESSIONS TO PAY FOR THEIR BOAT PASSAGE TO COUNTRIES OF
FIRST ASYLUM. THEY WOULD REQUIRE SOME PERSONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FACILITATE THEIR RETURN, APART FROM ANY WIDER AID SCHEME.
5. AHMED ADDED THAT VIETNAM HAD TRIED TO INSIST THAT REPATRIATION MUST BE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS (PARA 3 OF MY TELNO 372) AHMED HAD
REPLIED THAT THOSE WHO WERE NOT RECOGNISED BY UNHCR AS GENUINE REFUGEES (EG ECONOMIC MIGRANTS) SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BACK BY VIETNAM
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE WILLING TO RETURN.
SANKEY