TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 142

ADJOURNMENT DEBATE: TUESDA】 14 MAY 1985

"CRISIS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND THE REFUGEE PROBLEM"

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Vietnam

1.

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Human Rights

The

Root cause of refugee problem in Indo-China lies in Hanoi.

oppressive foreign and domestic policies of the Vietnamese Government have led to economic priorities where disproportionate resources are devoted to maintaining third largest army in the

world.

2. This, combined with a lamentable human rights record has

resulted in continuing exodus of large numbers of Vietnamese (around one million since 1975) who flee their country in search of a better life. Last year a further 25,000 fled by boat risking dangers at sea including piracy.

3.

Many thousands of Vietnamese have been detained since 1975 in

the so called re-education camps of Vietnam without charge or trial; they continue to be subjected to exceptionally harsh treatment, and deprived of food and medicine. We are similarly disturbed by the continuing detention without trial or charge of intellectuals,

diplomats and writers who have expressed views even marginally

different from the official party line; by the discriminatory

attitude of the Vietnamese Government towards Chinese and other

ethnic minorities in Vietnam; and by the persecution and harassment

of Catholics and Buddhists - particularly of Catholic and Buddhist priests solely because of their faith.

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4. Need to persuade Hanoi Government to put its house in order and

take proper responsibility for its own citizens. We make this clear

whenever possible.