TNAG-1787-FCO40-2547-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 59

'21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting

and Post. Ministerial Conference wi Bangkok: Jew't communique

вандкок

ий

INDOCHINESE REFUGEES

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The Foreign Ministers referred

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PA

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to their Joint Statement on

Indochinese Refugees, issued on 4 July 1988, and reiterated their

serious concern over

the continued exodus of Indochinese refugees, displaced persons and illegal immigrants into the ASEAN region. They

noted with particular concern the encrmous increase in the outflow of Vietnamese boat people over the past year. They stressed that the

continuation of the refugee problem would create severe difficulties for

the ASEAN countries and affect stability in the region.

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The Foreign Ministers reiterated the urgency of solving the

problem at its source. They called on Vietnam to discourage the illegal

outflow of its people, and urged Vietnam Co cooperate with the

international community to ensure the successful operation of the Orderly Departure Programme. They also urged the Government of Vietnam

to accept the repatriation of its people.

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The Foreign Ministers also urged the Government of Laos to expedite the return of those who have not passed the UNHC8-monitored screening process, and to accept the voluntary return of its people in

safety and with dignity.

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The Foreign Ministers expressed continuing concern

over the

plight of Kampuchean displaced persons uprooted by the Vietnamese military occupation of Kampuchea. They reiterated that a just and comprehensive political settlement of the Kampuchean problem would enable the Kampuchean displaced persons along the Thai-Kampuchean border

to their homeland in safety in accordance with their

inalienable rights.

to

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return

The Foreign Ministers renewed their appeal to the

international community to continue to render assistance towards relieving the plight of Indochinese refugees and displaced persons. They expressed their concern over new restrictive resettlement criteria which have resulted in the build-up of long-stayer refugee populations in the region, and called on the international community to fulfill its

resettlement commitments.

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