GRS 583
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY NO. 51
FM BRUNEI 218730Z JUL
25 JUL 1977
CONFIDENTIAL
/53
NOC245/532/)
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 164 CF 21 JULY 1977
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97
RFI ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA KUALA LUMPUR MANILA AND JAKARTA.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
1. A FURTHER GROUP OF ABOUT 46 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES LANDED IN
BRUNET ON 19 JULY AT THE RBNR BEACH AT BERAKAS. THEY COMPRISE FOUR FAMILIES, AND INCLUDE SMALL CHILDREN. THERE WAS NO MAJOR MEDICAL PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE GROUP WERE WEAK AFTER CROSSING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA IN A 40 FOOT FISHING BOAT WITH AV UNRELIABLE
ENGINE.
2.
THE IMMEDIATE BRUNEI GOVERNEMENT REACTION WAS TO FORBID DISEMBARKATION, AND ORDER THE REMR TO ESCORT THE CRAFT TO THE LIMIT OF TERRITORIAL WATERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE COMMANDER
RBMR CONTACTED ME AND WE AGREED ON A PRIVATE 'GO SLOW' TO ENSURE THAT THE CRAFT, WHICH HAD ARRIVED IN VERY POOR CONDITION, WOULD HAVE FOOD, FUEL AND WATER AND BE REASO ABLY SAFE BEFORE BEING SENT ON ITS WAY. THE FLOTILLA ARE NOW DOING THEIR BEST ON THE CRAFT
WHICH WILL PROBABLY LEAVE WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
3.
THE COMMANDER RBMR HIMSELF UNDERSTANDS THE POSITION OF
PMG IN THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION. BUT IN THE AFTERMATH OF OUR HELP OVER THE ALTANIN GROUP, SOME BRITISH PEOPLE IN THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HIGH COMMISSION TAKE AN INITIATIVE TO SECURE DISEMBARKATION AND ASSUME A RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESETTLEMENT: (WE OURSELVES ARE OF COURSE SEEKING TO UNDERLINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LATEST GROUP AND THE RECENT ALTANIN GROUP, SURVIVORS PICKED UP BY A BRITISH SHIP ON THE HIGH SEAS).
CONFIDENTIAL
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