THE 1989 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDOCHINESE REFUGEES
Events affecting asylum seekers in Southeast Asia during the
past year have provoked an international outcry of concern,
particularly with regard to the tragic instances of loss of life
and the more general erosion of the consensus which had ensured a
modicum of protection for persons in flight. On the other hand,
the difficult predicament of countries offering temporary refuge
in the region has been highlighted; and it has become clear that
international attention must be refocused on a set of issues
which are no longer being adequately addressed by arrangements
designed to deal with the particular emergency circumstances of
1979. An important though unintended consequence of recent
developments has been that all of the concerned parties have been
compelled to action and constructive dialogue, in a situation
which had essentially been static for much of the last eight
years.
Broad international support has been given to ASEAN's appeal
for a new conference on refugees. The countries concerned have
expressed hope that such a conference will be successful in
addressing the rapidly deteriorating asylum situation by framing
a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the problems that
continue to compound the crisis. The conference, to be convened
in Geneva by the U.N. Secretary General, is tentatively scheduled
for mid June of this year.
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