XN000022-1988-09-09 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1988

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WORKING GROUP TO MONITOR RELAXATION PROGRAMME

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A WORKING GROUP WILL BE SET UP AT EACH OF THE CLOSED CENTRES FOR REFUGEES TO MONITOR THE RELAXATION PROCESS AND ΤΟ MAINTAIN A CONTINUOUS EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.

IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE RELAXATION PROGRAMME, REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR, MR MIKE HANSON, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THB WORKING GROUPS WOULD COMPRISE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SECURITY BRANCH, POLICE, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE, THE UNHCR AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND HOPEFULLY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

"THE RELAXATION PROCESS WOULD HAVE TO BE SUITED ΤΟ LOCAL CONDITIONS OF THE CAMPS WHICH ARE ALL VERY DIFFERENT. WE HAVE TO TAILOR-MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR EACH CAMP AND WE WILL GO GRADUALLY.

"WE WILL TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME AND CERTAINLY FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THE CAMPS WILL REMAIN UNDER GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT AND WOULD NOT BE PASSED ONTO THE UNHCR UNTIL THEY HAVE ACHIEVED FULL OPEN CENTRE STATUS, MR HANSON STRESSED.

MR HANSON ALSO SAID THE POLICE WAS PLANNING TO PROVIDE A POLICE PRESENCE SIMILAR то NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UNITS INSIDE CAMPS AS THE RELAXATION PROGRAMME PROGRESSED, TO ENSURE GOOD LAW ORDER.

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REGARDING THE CONCERN OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OVER POSSIBILITY OF JOBS BEING TAKEN BY THE REFUGERS, MR HANSON SAID IT WOULD NOT POSE A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE NUMBERS WOULD NOT BE VERY GREAT.

"THE TOTAL CLOSED CAMP

POPULATION IS ABOUT 13,000 AND THE NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO DROP OVER TIME WITH RESETTLEMENT NOW TAKING PLACE AT ABOUT 2,000 PER YEAR.

"MOREOVER, NOT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE OF WORKING AGE OR ARE READY TO GO TO WORK. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GUESS BUT THE FIGURE IS AROUND 4,000 TO 5,000, HE SAID.

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EXPLAINING THE LOGISTICS OF FINDING EMPLOYMENT FOR THESE REFUGEES, MR HANSON SAID THE UNHCR WOULD PROVIDE A JOB PLACEMENT SERVICE IN THE CAMPS AND THIS WOULD BE DONE IN STAGES AND MANAGED VERY CAREFULLY.

"WE WILL TRY TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUITABLY SKILLED AND THEREFORE ABLE ΤΟ GO TO WORK IMMEDIATELY AND THEN WE WILL PROGRESSIVELY DEVELOP JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

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