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030240
MDTTAN 6931
ITIONALLY THE THAI GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING RECLASSIFYING TRAT
ARRIVAL BOAT ARRIVALS AS LAND REFUGEES, AND TO MOVING THEM AFTER TO THE THAI/CAMBODIAN BORDER (TO THE VIETNAMESE PLATFORM IN SITE 2) RATHER THAN TO REFUGEE HOLDING CENTRES.
4.
UNHCR HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND IN- SITED THAT THAI ACTION SHOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE TREATMENT OF REFUGEES. THE US EMBASSY HAS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN
COMMENT
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5.
11,195 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVED IN THAILAND DURING 1987 THE HIGHEST ARRIVAL RATE SINCE 1981. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT CONVERNS OVER THE INCREASE IN ARRIVALS HAS PROMPTED THE LATEST INITIATIVE. THAILAND IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED AT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF LONG STAYERS AS MORE OF THOSE REFUGEES ARRIVING ARE FROM NORTHERN VIETNAM, AND OFTEN MOTIVATED BY
IT SEEMS ECONOMIC REASONS RATHER THAN POLITICAL PERSECUTION PROBABLE THAT THE THAIS ARE SEEKING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR WORSENING REFUGEE PROBLEM. THEY MAY ALSO BE TESTING THE WATER IN TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE REACTION TO THE INTODUCTION OF A MORE HARD-LINE POLICY TOWARDS THOSE VIETNAMESE OPTING FOR THE EASIER LAND/SEA ROUTE TO THAILAND. SO FAR AT LEAST THE MAJOR RESETTLE- MENT COUNTRIES APPEAR TO BE TAKING A FAIRLY RELAXED LINE. EVEN THE US STATEMENT IS, A FAIRLY MILD RESPONSE.
SIGNED: P.L. BEAN
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