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Reference.
(c) UNHCR would be allowed unrestricted access and
presence in this area to carry out their functions of protection and assistance.
Full transfer of refugees from the islands to Site 2 would take place within one month.
10. Mr Dewey summed up by describing the picture as grim and depressing. UNHCR needed firm assurances from the RTG concerning the restoration of the policy of first asylum. The High Commissioner might decide that his protection mandate was no longer feasible in Thailand. There were mounting pressures from the NGOs, etc on UNHCR to take greater efforts. Thai responses
on the restoration of the policy of first asylum had varied in tone, connotation and substance.
Mr Homann-Herimberg's Visit to Vietnam
11. ODP. The Vietnamese Government had confirmed that more than 20,000 could leave in 1988 under the ODP. They agreed that the ODP was the best response to the problem of illegal departures and would do their best to discourage illegal departures, especially trafficking. The Vietnamese authorities also indicated to Mr Homann-Herimberg that they would look at the possible return of "screened-out" persons, but reiterated their policy that voluntary repatriation was still only on a case-by-case basis.
Mr Dewey's Appeal to HLWG Governments
12. Mr Dewey said that screening mechanisms and improvements to ODP were needed and he appealed for the help of HLWG governments as follows:
(a)
(b)
a more active involvement by HLWG governments in prodding the RTG to restore fully their policy of first asylum and to allow UNHCR to carry out their mandate properly;
for HLWG governments to talk to the Vietnamese Government to convince them that their present policies harmed the prospects of reconciliation in the region. and that they needed to build up humanitarian policies.
UNHCR felt isolated on these two problems. Mr Dewey also considered that smuggling was not a large part of the problem in Thailand.
Discussion
13. In the discussion that followed Mr Dewey's presentation, France drew attention to the push-off boats that had arrived in Malaysia. Australia stated that the policy of push-offs had had its deterrent effects; the Australian Ambassador in Bangkok had also received responses from the RTG that varied in tone, etc and was convinced that there was no consistent policy of the RTC.
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