TNAG-0899-FCO40-1109-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 7

F. Over-all assessment of the situation

33. Compared with the grave refugee problems of the past, the number involved in South-East Asia are not unmanageable. The difficulties arise not so much from the actual numbers facing the individual countries of the region, but rather from the historical and political complexities of the problem and the uncertainties as to the future. It is these factors which have inhibited durable solutions.

34. The three possible durable solutions for the refugees and displaced persons are voluntary repatriation, local settlement and, in the absence of these alternatives, resettlement outside the country of first asylum. In South-East Asia only the latter has, to date, produced significant results, but the considerable efforts made by various countries have not kept pace with the ever-increasing needs. The pending case-load has thus continued to increase dramatically. Precisely because the problem has not been contained, local settlement on any significant scale has not been possible in South-East Asia. Conditions in Indo-China have meant that voluntary repatriation, except for the Kampucheans who were in Viet Nam, has been extremely limited.

35. Both for the land cases in Thailand and the boat cases throughout the region, the solutions provided to date have been outrun by events, despite great efforts. A backlog of pending cases has built up. As a result, the countries of the region have lost confidence in the ability of the international community to control the problem. In turn, as the exodus has continued, the internationally accepted principles of asylum and non-refoulement have been breached. Moreover, lacking the reassurace that the problem will be contained, the countries of the region have been reluctant to provide local durable solutions where these might otherwise have been possible.

36. There is now no way in which the problem can be resolved by piece-meal measures. No single action, however generous, will suffice. More than ever, the crisis demands coherent and closely co-ordinated action of the international community if further lives are not to be lost. UNHCR and the United Nations system, together with other intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations, must and will continue to play their role, but the solution to the problem lies, ultimately, in the hands of Governments. A plan of action is suggested below.

III.

SUGGESTED PLAN OF ACTION

37. To resolve the problems in the area, it is essential that any plan of action address itself to the situation in its totality and be comprehensive in its search for solutions. The objectives to be achieved are the following:

(a) First, that wise and humane measures are taken by those concerned to remedy a situation in which thousands upon thousands of Indochinese leave their homes in the present manner.