I
R Chatterjie Esq
20 December 1979
5
The Soviets and their allies blamed the refugee problem in Africa and the Middle East on the continuation of racist policies and the denial of self-determination to the indigenous populations. Responsibility for the refugees in South East Asia, they said, lay with the aggressors against Kampuchea, Vietnam and Laos. stressed non-interference in other states' domestic affairs and
They praised Vietnam for her alleged constructive approach to the refugee problem. They boasted of their aid programmes to the governments of Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea and reprimanded other countries for not distributing aid to Kampuchea through the Heng Sam regime. They continually ragged China for not being able to "teach a lesson" to Vietnam. This provoked several rights of reply. Vietnamese themselves side-swiped at Western countries but said
The that Vietnam would continue to observe the commitments made to the UNHCR and other governments.
6.
The South East Asian countries stressed the humanitarian aspects of the refugee problem in their area. difficulties they were experiencing in dealing with such large
They elaborated the numbers. Indonesia pointed out that the "boat people" was being dealt with efficiently but that the influx of "land people" into Thailand needed further consideration.
7.
Apart from Jordan, who spoke about Palestinian refugees and Egypt, who spoke in general terms, the Arab Group kept their heads down and hardly participated in the debate. The Latin Americans referred to their own refugee problems, including Nicaragua.
Resolutions and Voting (A/C.3/34/SR.47-48
8.
Despite the Danes' efforts to contain the South East Asian and African elements within their own draft, three resolutions were finally submitted, the other two by Thailand and the African Group.
9.
The resolution (L.35) on the Report of the UNHCR was cosponsored by Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Finland, FRG, Ghana, Iceland, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, Sweden, Tanzania, Venezuela, Zaire, Ethiopia, Zambia, Spain, France, Nigeria, Swaziland and Morocco. Denmark orally revised preambular paragraph 1 so that after the word "office" should be inserted: "as well as the report of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner for Refugees programme on its 30th session". The resolution was adopted by consensus.
10 The draft by the African Group on the situation of African refugees (L.36) and intended to counterbalance the Thai resolution was cosponsored by Libya (on behalf of the Group), Jordan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It was adopted by consensus.
/11.
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