LOUN
UNCLASSIFIED
STATE 237693
MY GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESSFUL
EPATRATION PROGRAMS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WILL VARY FROM
TO COUNTRY. WE ARE PLEASED THAT IN LAOS A SMALL REPATRIATION PROGRAM FULFILLING THESE REQUIREMENTS HAS BEEN POSSIBLE. WE HOPE THAT IT CAN BE EXPANDED. THE PRESENT ATTITUDE OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, INDICATES CLEARLY THAT REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE EXCEPT IN A FEW HUMANITARIAN CASES. WE WOULD WELCOME INDICATIONS OF A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE BY THE SRV. WE ENCOURAGE CONTINUED UNHCR TALKS WITH THE HENG SAMRIN AUTHORITIES REGARDING POSSIBLE REPATRIATION OF XAMPUCHEAN REFUGEES. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WHILE
EXPLORATIONS FOR A SAFE AND HUMANE PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE. STATEMENTS BY PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE HENG SAMRIN REGIME TO INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES AND JOURNALISTS CAST DOUBT ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO JOIN A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAM AT THIS TIME. THE UNITED STATES WOULD SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RETURNEES WHO VOLUNTEERED UNDER AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND APPROVED PROGRAM, BUT WOULD NOT APPROVE OF ANY PRIOR POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS SET BY THE BENG SAMRIN AUTHORITIES FOR ALLOWING THEIR COUNTRYMEN TO RETURN. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COULD BE RETURNING TO AN AREA WHERE THEY MAY BE UNWELCOME AND THUS COULD BE PERSECUTED BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY.
SINCERELY
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3. FOR ALL INFO ADDRESSEES: YOU MAY SHARE INFORMALLY THE CONTENTS OF THIS LETTER WITH THE APPROPRIATE INTERESTED OFFICIALS OF YOUR HOST GOVERMENTS.
DAM UNQUOTE DAM
UNCLASSIFIED
STATE 237693
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