TNAG-1795-FCO40-2555-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 70

the conference opposed ad hoc screening by first asylum countries.

creening for refugee status must be done under international aw, in accord with the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, as amended by the 1967 U.N. Protocol. The criteria for refugee status should not be confused with third country resettlement processing guidelines. Screening should be done only in the context of international cooperation, at a safe and secure location, with all asylum-seekers having fair and equal access to the process, including the opportunity (and assistance) to appeal negative determinations. Screening teams must be given adequate training on the cultural, geographic, political, and socio-economic contexts from which asylum-seekers are fleeing.

REPATRIATION

Involuntary repatriation of bona fide refugees and of those denied a fair opportunity to present their cases is unacceptable. Voluntary repatriation does not appear to be a solution at this time. Repatriation must include internationally-monitored guarantees of safety and amnesty for all persons returned voluntarily under such programs.

LOCAL INTEGRATION

The conference acknowledged that local integration is not a universal alternative to current policies. Realizing that local integration (or settlement in the region) requires both receptivity of the host country and willingness of refugees, participants called for a softening of first asylum policies toward local settlement. The conference also called for an exploration of spontaneous and creative alternatives.

RENEWAL OF INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS

There must be multi-year resettlement commitments and international burden-sharing. U.S. participants agreed to explore the Canadian church program and implement opportunities for private sponsorships in the U.S. Using mechanisms like humanitarian parole, governments should implement an "amnesty" program for persons who have been in camps over three years. The conference called upon the U.S. Government to utilize its full level of FY 1988 admissions, with full domestic funding necessary for adequate resettlement. Recognizing the progress made recently in the U.S. Orderly Departure Program/vietnam, the conference recommended increasing the number of persons processed and expansion of the program to Laos (and Cambodia when the situation in Phnom Penh permits). Participants called for bilateral programs to resettle political prisoners as a top action priority.

DEALING WITH ROOT CAUSES OF REFUGEE FLOWS

Both the advocacy community and the international community must explore solutions to root causes of outflows. Indochinese- Americans must warn friends and relatives in their home countries about the new conditions in countries of asylum. In an unexpected move, conference participants supported the idea of private sector emergency food assistance to the people of vietnam, provided there is adequate international monitoring of distribution.