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FLIGHT). ONCE THE BACKLOG IS CLEARED THE CURRENT RATE OF NEW
REQUESTS WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN A RATE OF RETURN OF 1000 PEOPLE EACH MONTH. HOWEVER, IT IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT THAT BOTH UNHCR AND THE VIETNAMESE ESTABLISH ARRANGEMENTS WHICH COULD COPE RAPIDLY
WITH ANY INCREASE IN THE RATE OF NEW REQUESTS WHICH MIGHT DEVELOP
ONCE THE BACKLOG IS CLEARED AND IF THERE IS A NEW INFLUX.
·
IT IS
4 ON PARA 2 OF TUR, THE POSITION IS THAT THE 51 PEOPLE RETURNED TO VIETNAM ON 12 DECEMBER WERE GIVEN INTENSIVE COUNSELLING BY BOTH
UNHCR AND CSD. THIS AMOUNTED TO COUNSELLING ON A DAILY BASIS.
IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCEPT THAT THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN THE POINTS PUT TO
LORD ENNALS AND MR RAISON BY RETURNEES THAT THEY WERE IN DOUBT ABOUT THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME. IT IS OF COURSE ALL TOO
EASY TO SEE WHY THEY SHOULD SAY WHAT THEY DID. TAKING YOUR POINTS IN PARA 3 OF TUR IN TURN:
(A) THE CSD COUNSELLING EFFORT HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THOSE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN DEFINITIVELY SCREENED OUT. CSD HAVE A TEAM OF 6 COUNSELLORS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING AT CHI MA WAN AND PHOENIX HOUSE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. MORE GENERALLY, THE HKG REFUGEE CO- ORDINATOR ORGANISED A PROGRAMME OF COUNSELLING VISITS TO THE
DETENTION CENTRES BEGINNING IN LATE NOVEMBER. THIS PROGRAMME WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED AS A UNHCR SPONSORED ARRANGEMENT WHICH WAS TO
INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. IT BECAME APPARENT IN NOVEMBER THAT THE LOCAL OFFICE OF UNHCR WERE
NOT/NOT PREPARED TO UNDERTAKE THIS ROLE. WE THEREFORE ESTABLISHED A PROGRAMME IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE US, CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN CONSULATES. THESE COUNSELLING SESSIONS ARE AIMED AT THE OPINION
LEADERS IN THE CAMPS AND THE PRESENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ADDS CREDIBILITY TO THE MESSAGE.
(B) UNHCR HAVE DEPLOYED A TOTAL OF 16 REPATRIATION COUNSELLORS TO THE CAMPS. IT IS APPARENT TO US, AND TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, THAT THESE COUNSELLORS ARE NOT/NOT EXPLAINING THE FULL AND OFTEN UNPALATABLE MESSAGE OF THE CPA.
(C) UNHCR HAVE YET TO COMPLETE THEIR INFORMATION SHEETS IN VIETNAMESE FOR CIRCULATION IN THE CAMPS. WE HAVE BEEN PRESSING THE LOCAL OFFICE FOR MONTHS ON THIS AS HAS THE UNHCR'S REGIONAL OFFICER FOR DURABLE SOLUTIONS (CASSELLA). WE HAVE SEEN AND COMMENTED ON DRAFTS AND WE AND OTHERS (NOTABLY THE US AND CANADIANS) HAVE BEEN
PRESSING FOR THE EARLY DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH LEAFLETS.
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