TNAG-1066-FCO40-1316-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 171

E/CN.4/1503

Annex I page 28

87. By the end of 1978,

of 1978, at least 60 000 Nicaraguans (of a population of 2.6 million) were reported by UNHCR to have left their country seeking asylum in Costa Rica, Honduras and other countries of Central America. By mid 1979 the figure had reached over 100 000.

88.

International assistance was found to be required for a high proportion of the refugees, and, since it was not possible to predict how long it might be before they would feel able to return home, it was considered not sufficient to organize relief action alone. Local integration and other long-term measures financed largely through UNHCR were implemented in Nicaragua by specially

a

created Government Co-ordinating Committee, and in Honduras by the national Red Cross working in close co-ordination with the Government. Parallel measures were taken for the smaller number of refugees in Panama and other countries of the region.

89.

After the formation of the Government of National Recon- struction on 20 July 1978, many of the refugees were in fact able to return. After making an appeal for funds in August 1979, UNHCR

UNHCR assisted with rehabilitation measures for both returnees and the internally displaced. Meanwhile, several thousand people who had supported the previous régime were leaving the country. More recently, there have been reports that members of ethnic Indian communities (who represent some 4 per cent of the population), not happy with the Government's efforts to integrate them into the life of the rest of the country, are crossing into Honduras while certain others, in disagreement with the régime, are reportedly taking steps to

leave.

91.

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92. reli

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1980

1979

-

UGANDA (THE REPUBLIC OF)

93.

gove

90. The violations of human rights which characterized the eight-year rule of ex-President Idi Amin Dada left in what had earlier been a peaceful and relatively prosperous country an aftermath of social and economic disruption of which the reper- cussions would be felt for some time to come.

The discovery after Amin's authoritarian régime had come to an end in early 1979 of an estimated one million widows and orphans of civilians eliminated in one way or another by the authorities was one infinitely tragic proof of

of atrocities perpetrated upon the defenceless population by the armed forces and State Research Bureau. The chronic incidence of famine in the north of the country soon afterwards and the security problems encountered by the new government and outside bodies in trying to alleviate it bore ample testimony both to the country's having been driven to the brink of economic disaster and to the degree of lawlessness abroad in the land.

ing

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