Voluntary Repatriation
There is reason for deep skepticism that negotiations with
Vietnam, Laos or Kampuchea will result in agreement to princi-
ples and procedures that would permit major voluntary repatria-
tions. (Since 1982 less than 2,000 Laotians and less than 200
Vietnamese have been voluntarily repatriated. Approximately
10,000 Khmer were relocated but to the Thai-Kampuchea border and
they presumably are now back in Thailand.) Nevertheless, effort
should be made to clear the path for the return of those people
who want to do so voluntarily, whatever or wherever the obstacles
are, while expeditiously resettling those who have clear claim to
refugee status and close ties to resettlement nations--that is,
individuals for whom voluntary repatriation is clearly not the
appropriate step. Perhaps the wider United Nations machinery can
provide a suitable venue for developing such an approach.
Self-Reliance and Development
In areas where there is a substantial number of Indochinese
who are unlikely to be resettled, projects need to be developed
and funded which contribute to a more productive life for them
and, preferably, for the broader region in which they reside.
The Thai have resisted such projects because they are concerned
that it would send a message (a) to the Indochinese that they can
stay indefinitely and (b) to the countries of resettlement that
Thailand is backing away from its resolve not to be a country of
permanent settlement. This position ignores that there are many
refugee situations around the world where increased support for
refugee self-reliance and productivity has not necessarily
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