68
RESTRICTED
FM KUALA LUMPUR
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 544
OF 11003OZ OCTOBER 88
RESTRICTED
004455
MCD 243/'S TOP "AN 7027
Q Dior ?
AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG, BANGKOK, HANOI, JAKARTA, SINGAPORE AND TO ROUTINE PEKING, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, TOKYO, OTTAWA
AND TO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
YOUR TELNO 454: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS
1 YESTERDAY TOOK ACTION WITH PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF THE MFA.
·
MR AHMAD FAZIL ALI, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY RESPONSIBLE FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, WAS GLAD OF THE BRIEFING. HE MADE NO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENT ON OUR PLANNED APPROACH AT THE TALKS. HOWEVER
HE DID RAISE THE SUBJECT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. WE SPOKE
ON THE LINES OF TUR.
2. WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE CALL TO ASK ABOUT THE PROPOSED
VISIT TO MALAYSIA BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WAS REPORTED AS HAVING SAID AT THE WEEK-
END THAT THE VISIT WOULD OCCUR NEXT MONTH. FAZIL SAID THE DATES
WERE STILL UNDER DISCUSSION BUT THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT THE VISIT
WOULD TAKE PLACE IN MID-NOVEMBER AND CERTAINLY BEFORE THE ASEAN
WORKING GROUP MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE LATE NOVEMBER/EARLY DECEMBER.
HE ADMITTED THAT ONE REASON THE DATES HAD NOT YET BEEN FIRMED
UP WAS THAT THE MALAYSIANS WERE WORRIED POSSIBLE DISTURBANCES AT
PULAU BIDONG IF THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WERE ALLOWED TO PAY A VISIT
TO THE CAMP. FAZIL SAID THAT THE MFA WERE LOOKING AT WAYS AROUND
THIS DIFFICULTY. HE ADDED THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE CONTACT
BETWEEN THE OFFICIALS AND THE REFUGEES.
3.
•
HE SAID THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE VIETNAMESE VISIT WAS
TO AGREE THE MODALITIES OF REPATRIATION. WHEN ASKED HOW MANY HAD
VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN, HE SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN ONLY SIX UP TO NOW. BUT THE MALAYSIAN AND VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS STILL HOPED,
BETWEEN THEM, TO PERSUADE THE MAJORITY TO RETURN VOLUNTARILY TO VIETNAM. THE REMAINDER WOULD, HE SUPPOSED, HAVE
TO BE FORCIBLY RETURNED ONCE PULAU BIDONG CLOSED.
SPRECKLEY
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