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ARRANGEMENTS FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED, THEN A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE, OR OVERSPILL CENTRE, WAS ONE OF THE FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR KEEPING THE SITUATION HERE MANAGEABLE. IT
WAS CLEAR FROM HIS RESPONSE THAT UNHCR IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE
IDEA OF A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE, NOT JUST FOR THE REASONS EXPLAINED BY HOCKE BUT ALSO FOR FEAR THAT THE CONCEPT SHOULD THEN BE APPLIED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT UNHCR WOULD NOT PRESS THEIR OBJECTION PROVIDING THAT SOME OTHER ORGANISATION, SUCH AS ICM, COULD DO THE ACTUAL RUNNING OF THE
CENTRE.
5.
I HOPE THAT HOCKE'S VISIT TO LONDON ON 15/16 MAY WILL BE USED BOT TO PRESS THE NECESSITY FOR TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE SOON ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPATRIATION AS WELL AS TO ENCOURAGE UNHCR AND OTHERS TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE INTEREST IN PROMOTING THE IDEA OF A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE. IN THIS CONTEXT MANILA TELNO 162, NOT TO ALL, IS ENCOURAGING. WE SHOULD BE UNDER NOT ILLUSIONS ABOUT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION ALONE BEING SUFFICIENT TO GET THE PROBLEM
UNDER CONTROL. IT WILL NOT.
WILSON
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