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TO PRIORITY HANOI
TELNO 190
OP 12170OZ MAY 89
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ACT. REPAT
066454
MDLOAN 8890
рад
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
1.
PROPOSALS OF THICH NHAT THIEN
I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE VENERABLE THICH NHAT THIEN, OF HCMC. HE CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN DIRECTOR OF THE VIETNAM BUDDHIST SOCIAL WORK ORGANISATION, AND IN 1975 KNEW HMA SAIGON, MR BUSHELL, AND MR SOUTAR, OF THE EMBASSY STAFF.
MR THIEN HAD EXPERIENCE IN THE WAR OF ORGANISING THE RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE MOVING FROM PROVINCE TO PROVINCE. HE HAS TAKEN A STRONG INTEREST IN THE SITUATION OF THE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE. HE SEES THE TASK OF INSTILLING
CONFIDENCE IN ANY VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AS CRUCIAL TO
ITS SUCCESS.
3, HE THEREFORE VOLUNTEERS HIS SERVICES FREE TO THE UK AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS AND UNHCR IN THE RUN UP TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND AFTERWARDS. HE IS PREPARED TO VISIT THE CAMPS, AND TO PREPARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PLAN OF ACTION TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY RETURNS.
4.
GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT MR THIEP, AND FOR YOUR VIEWS ON HIS OFFER, PARTICULARLY LIKELY REACTION OF VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.
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