CONFIDENTIAL
ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE REMITTANCES THERE IS NO POSSIBLE DOURT. THEY WERE SOLICITED, AND INTENDED, TO FINANCE THE DEPARTURE OF CHINESE-VIETNAMESE WHO HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO GO BY MEANS OF ACTUAL
OR THREATENED LOSS OF JOBS AND HOMES AND BY THE THREAT OF 'SLOW. DEATH'' THROUGH REMOVAL TO NEW ECONOMIC ZONES IN UNCULTIVATED PARTS OF THE RURAL OUTBACK. STATISTICS ON VIETNAM'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE ARE MINIMAL AND SUSPECT: BUT COAL FROM NORTH VIETNAM, PARTICULARLY ANTHRACITE, WAS LAST YEAR GENERALLY AGREED TO BE THE
COUNTRY'S BEST-EARNING EXPORT, WITH ABOUT 10 MILLION TONNES MINED OVER A YEAR. ACCORDING TO ONE RECENT ESTIMATE FROM WITHIN VIETNAM, THE REFUGEES HAVE NOW OVERTAKEN COAL AS A SOURCE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE
THERE HAVE BEEN STRONG INDICATIONS IN THE PAST OF THE COMMUNIST AUTHORITIES' RUTHLESS INSISTENCE ON KEEPING THE TRAFFIC IN REFUGEES TOTALLY WITHIN THEIR OWN CONTROL ( EVEN THOUGH THE TRADE HAS INVOLVED THEM IN COLLABORATION WITH UNSCRUPULOUS ENTREPRENEURS ON
THE DARKEST FRINGES OF JUNGLE CAPITALISM NOTABLY THE OPERATORS OF ''STRAW'' SHIPPING COMPANIES WHO HAVE BOUGHT DECREPIT FREIGHTERS TO TRANSPORT REFUGEES, REGARDING THESE DESPARATE PEOPLE AS A TEMPORARILY MORE ATTRACTIVE LINE OF BUSINESS THAN DRUG-RUNNING OR
SHIP-INSURANCE FRAUD).
REPORTS OF SPECIFIC INCIDENTS HAVE, HOWEVER, BEEN RARE. THIS IS EXPLAINED BY LAST-MINUTE THREATS BY VIETNAM'S PUBLIC SECURITY (SECRET POLICE) OFFICIALS, WHO CONDUCT THE TRAFFIC, TO PUNISH''
REMAINING RELATIVES FOR ANY TRACEABLE INDISCRETION ON THE FUGITIVES'
PART WHEN AND IF THEY REACH A HOSPITABLE SHORE.
DESPITE THIS, RECENT ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG HAVE GIVEN A DETAILED
AND MACABRE ACCOUNT OF THE MASSACRE, OVER CHRISTMAS, OF A BOATLOAD OF PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO LEAVE SOUTHERN VIETNAM WITH ''PERMISSION''.
THE GROUP NUMBERED 220, INCLUDING 60 CATHOLIC NUNS AND PRIESTS. SECURITY FORCES OPENED FIRE ON THEM, AND FEW SURVIVED
ACCORDING
TO ONE SOURCE, NO MORE THAN 16.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO SQUARE THE PICTURE WHICH EMERGES FROM THESE REPORTS WITH THE REPORTED PLEDGE, BY THE VIETNAM GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE AT THE RECENT CONFERENCE ON REFUGEES IN JAKARTA, TO EASE THE REFUGEE BURDEN ON COUNTRIES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA BY
ALLOWING EMIGRANTS TO LEAVE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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