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11.
Recently, however, tens of thousands of Cambodians, many of
whom have been armed soldiers of one
other of the Cambodian
military factions, have crossed and recrossed the Thai frontier.
According to the Thais 80,000 of the Cambodians have squatted on
Thai territory. The Thais have been unwilling for the UNHCR to
have access to them, for fear that the refugees would acquire
permanent status. Many are women and children in pitiful
condition.
12. The Thais have embarked on a policy of forcibly repatriating
these people, despite the risk that many of them might perish in
Cambodia, but have agreed to suspend expulsions temporarily in view
of the US guarantee to take 1,121 refugees and to try to persuade
other countries to accept some.
13. The Thais have for some time been attempting to turn away
boat-loads of Vietnamese refugees, but as many as 4,349 people may
have succeeded in coming ashore.
Postscript: Malaysia, Daily Mail 22 June carried front page
report of a boat-load actually on the point of
Landing being forced off by warning shots.
CONFIDENTIAL
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