31/05/88
11:47
UK MISSION GENEVA
NO. 342
P009/011
8
M
This policy was further reaffirmed by the SRV, Vice Foreign Minister, Mr. Tran Quang Co, in the course of his mission to Geneva late in November
1987.
19. While the ODP was given priority consideration, other issues were not side-stepped. The question of voluntary repatriation has been a constant theme of UNHCR demarches to the SRV over the past several years. Most recently, the issue of readmission of the non-refugee cases has also been
raised.
20. Slight indications suggest that the attitude of the SRV on the issue of the "return" may be evolving, or is not at any rate impregnable. No tangible
progress however could be reported at this time. A recent acceleration of the case by case admissions of voluntary repatriation applicants has been encouraging, but beyond this the SRV has refused to commit itself to any return movement at the present time. The arguments used by the SRV Government
are familiar and could be summarised as follows :
VII.
illegal departures are the consequences of war and the economic isolation imposed upon Viet Nam. They are lured by hostile propaganda by the western or pro-western media; less favourable selection criteria and processing under the ODP (compared with the criteria used in first asylum camps) has also been contributing to illegal departures.
those who escape Viet Nam do so because they can not bear the economic hardship prevailing in the country. If they are accepted back they would return to the same conditions and would want to escape again,
the Government and the local authorities in Viet Nam faced with a multitude of domestic problems can not afford to use their time and scarce resources to accommodate and reintegrate disloyal citizens.
the SRV Government tries to prevent illegal departures but can not effectively patrol some 3,000 km of coast line.
Need for dialogue with the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
21. The point was already alluded to that the SRV attitude on the issue of
"return" may not be inextricably rigid. Given the right approach, the SRV may
see to its longer term interests to be accommodating on this subject.
Conditions under which a concession is conceivable could include i
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