TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S MEETING ON REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, 20-21 July 1979

BRIEF NO %: LAND REFUGEES (SEE ALSO FRENCH PAPER)

ESSENTIAL FACTS

Numbers

1.

146,000 Lao

>

16,500

Kampucheans }

in Thailand (UNHCR figures)

(+ c. 80,000 repatriated)

235,000

30,000

Vietnamese Chinese (+ hill tribes) in China

Kampucheans in Vietnam.

Lao/Kampucheans in Thailand

2. Numbers of Lao (mainly ethnic Thai, plus Montagnard tribes)

steadily increasing, but no panic flows, and possibility of eventual

repatriation exists. Thais fear being left with rump of unacceptable

peasant refugees indefinitely. They need material support to ease position for those who will not be readily accepted outside the region,

with less selective policies by resettlement countries - new EEC

food aid decision is helpful.

3.

There are now relatively few Kampucheans remaining in Thailand,

of the 80,000 to 100,000 two months ago. About half were forcibly

bussed into "safe" zones, the rest, marshalled by Khmer Rouge forces,

returned without Thai compulsion. This reduces immediate risk of

Vietnamese military incursions into Thailand, but tension may rise

again after the monsoon (November). A renewed influx is possible

if famine occurs in Pal Pat controlled areas of Kampuchea_ to avoid

a repetition of the forced repatriations (refaulement) of June, we should

consider humanitarian enclaves as border zone camps, i.e. not

actually in Thailand. Recognition problem (Heng Samrin/Vietnamese regime, with 150,000 to 200,000 Vietnamese troops, has only Soviet bloc recognition) makes UN or government to government aid very

difficult. Need to explore ICRC as similar channels. Sweden has

tried to arrange a mission: results not yet clear. Criterion is that Vietnamese occupation of Kampuchea should not be made easier

by receiving food aid.

UK Aid

4. Apart from food aid from EEC, there is no direct UK aid to

Thailand for refugee resettlement. (Small assistance to Save the

Children Fund etc for refugee projects). There is no obvious source of further UK assistance, and no undertakings can be entered