the precarious existence of this vulnerable population.
On 23 January, 1989, after years of difficult negotiations,
the UNHCR concluded a repatriation agreement with the Vietnamese-
backed People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) in Phnom Penh. The
aide-memoire outlining the agreement provides for the voluntary
return of Cambodian refugees, without respect to their country of
current residence (the term "refugee", in the document, is not
specifically defined). Further, it affirms the principles of
non-discrimination against returnees and equality of rights and
obligations with other citizens resident in Cambodia. The UNHCR,
as the responsible international agency, would facilitate
applications for repatriation, and would assist returnees in
their re-integration through appropriate programs.
The aide-memoire does not specifically address itself to the
situation of the "displaced persons" at the Thai border, but it
does establish a vitally important principle which could serve as
the basis for the long term resolution of their plight.
While this is a hopeful development, a critical problem
remains in the UNHCR's lack of a full protection and durable
solutions mandate with regard to the border population. In the
absence of such a mandate, and without freedom for the displaced
persons to move out from the resistance-controlled camps, it is
questionable whether large numbers of persons would have full and
unhindered access to a UNHCR facilitated program. Further,
without a satisfactory settlement of the Cambodian conflict,
there are no guarantees that persons would be voluntarily
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