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067311
MDHIAN 1956
RESTRICTED
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 262
OF 052326Z FEBRUARY 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE KINGSTON
RESTRICTED
нка ого 114
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INFO ROUTINE CARACAS, GRAND TURK, HAVANA, HONG KONG, OTTAWA INFO ROUTINE PARIS, TEGUCIGALPA, UKMIS GENEVA, UKMIS NEW YORK INFO ROUTINE MODUK, ACTOR
SIC EAD/ZAC
MY TELNO 189: HAITI
SUMMARY
1.
FORCIBLE REPATRIATION HAS BEGUN WITHOUT INCIDENT. NUMBER OF NEW ARRIVALS DROPS. HUNGER STRIKE IN HONDURAS. STATE CONSIDERING FULL ASYLUM SCREENING IN PORT AU PRINCE. LIMITED RELAXATION OF THE US TRADE EMBARGO.
DETAIL
2. THE STAY ON FORCIBLE REPATRIATION WAS LIFTED BY THE US SUPREME COURT ON 31 JANUARY. THE FIRST TWO BOAT LOADS (OF 162 AND 219 RESPECTIVELY) ARRIVED IN PORT AU PRINCE ON 3 FEBRUARY AND WERE OFF-LOADED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE AMERICANS PLAN TO RETURN 500 PERSONS EVERY OTHER DAY UNTIL ALL THE SCREENED OUT HAVE BEEN SENT BACK. COAST GUARD ARE CONCENTRATING FIRST ON THOSE WHO WILL RETURN QUIETLY. THE US MILITARY COMMANDER AT GUANTANAMO BAY HAS SAID PUBLICLY THAT HE IS WILLING TO USE FORCE TO REMOVE THOSE WHO RESIST.
3. COAST GUARD HAVE NOW RESCUED 15,078 BOAT PEOPLE. THE MOST RECENT DAILY FIGURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
27/1
31/1
1,305
587
28/1 1,178
1/2
24
29/1
2/2
286
30/1
3/2
167
24
STATE HOPE THAT THE DROP IN NUMBERS IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF FORCIBLE REPATRIATION HAVING RESUMED, BUT THE WEATHER HAS BEEN POOR THESE PAST FEW DAYS.
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