XN000022-1991-10-23 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1991

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STATĖMENT ON VIETNAMESE DOUBLE BACKERS'

*

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS REPORTS THAT VIETNAMESE DOUBLE BACKERS ARE LIKELY ΤΟ FACE PUNITIVE TREATMENT ON THRIR RETURN TO VIETNAM, 'THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

"THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN GUARANTEES ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT ANY OF THEIR CITIZENS WHO HAVE LEFT VIETNAM CLANDESTINELY AND WHO SUBSEQUENTLY RETURN WILL NOT BE SUBJECT го PUNITIVE OR DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT.

"THESE GUARANTEES ARE SET OUT FIRST IN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THE

COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR).

HIGH

DECEMBER 1988 UNITED NATIONS

THEY WERE REITERATED IN THE DECLARATION MADE BY ALL COUNTRIES PRESENT AT THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDOCHINESE REFUGEES STEERING COMMITTEE ON APRIL 30/MAY 1 1991 IN GENEVA, AT WHICH VIETNAM CONFIRMED THAT 'IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS, NO ASYLUM SEEKER WHO RETURNS WOULD FACE PERSECUTION'.

"UPON SIGNING THE AGREEMENT ON DOUPLE BACKERS EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD ONCR AGAIN REPEATED THEIR UNDERTAKINGS THAT NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO RETURNS TO VIETNAM WELL FACE PERSECUTION AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ FACILITATE THE MONITORING OF RETURNEES BY UNHCR AND OTHERS TO ENSURE THAT THESE GUARANTEES ARE FULLY RESPECTED.

'ון

IN MAY 1991, A TRAM OF SIX REPRESENTATIVES FROM NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGO'S) FROM THE USA, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA INDOCHINESE RESOURCE ACTION CENTRE (WASHINGTON), EPISCOPAL MIGRATION MINISTRIES (NEW YORK), IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROGRAM OF THE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE (NEW YORK), LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE (NEW YORK), INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES (TORONTO), AND THE AUSTRALITAN COUNCIL FOR OVERSEAS AID (CANBERRA) VISITED VIETNAM TO ASSESS THE SITUATION OF THOSE WHO HAD RETURNED. THEY CONCLUDED INTER ALIA THAT:

DISCUSSIONS WITH A

'IN OUR INTERVIEWS WITH RETURNEES AND VARIETY OF SOURCES (INTERNATIONAL NGO STAFF, DIPLOMATS, JOURNALISTS, EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND UNHCR OFFICIALS), WE HEARD NO EVIDENCE ΤΟ INDICATE THAT RETURNEES SUFFER HARASSMENT, MALTREATMENT OR DISCRIMINATION ON RETURN,'

'WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT UNHCR AND VIETNAM ARE IN GOOD FAITH COMPLYING WITH THE TERMS OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN VIETNAM AND UNICR

(13 DECEMBER 1988) WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE VOLUNTARY RETURN FROM COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN CONDITIONS OF SAFETY AND DIGNITY.' AND:

EFFECTIVE NETWORK

| IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS AN INFORMAL AND FOR COMMUNICATION IN VIETNAM AND WITHI THE INTERNATIONAL VIETNAMESE REFUGEE COMMUNITY. NEWS TRAVELS FAST AND TRAVELS WITH BASE TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.'

'MONITORING OCCURS