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A.
ARRIVAL AT NOI BAI
I have been out to the airport to observe the arrival of the last two flights. My impression is that there was little to distinguish these from normal arrivals, save the presence of observers and a little ceremony behind the scenes. It is slightly out of the ordinary that a throng of people is allowed out onto the apron to cluster round the foot of the steps. This consists mainly of Vietnamese press, radio and TV journalists, as well as government officials and UNHCR representatives. The AFP man was there the first time, but apart from him, foreign journalistic interest has now clearly fallen away. Airport security levels seemed normal and unmenacing (eg smartly turned-out unarmed policewomen). The repatriates passed through the standard immigra- tion and customs checks, looking somewhat subdued and preoccupied. A considerable crowd of friends and relatives was on hand to greet the returnees. Many of the greeters, to judge from their clothes and motorbikes, had had the benefit of some connection abroad or had themselves travelled abroad. Eventually the repatriates were reunited with their luggage (consisting mainly of large identical plastic bags). They were then embussed and taken to a Transit Centre to complete inward processing. Meanwhile, in one of the airport VIP lounges, there gathered the Vietnamese officials
(including representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Consular Department MFA, etc), the UNHCR representatives, myself and the crowd of journalists. Can, the Director of Immigration, an electrically forceful personality, made a short speech recording the arrival of the fifth flight, and signed and exchanged documents with the UNHCR representative from their Hong Kong office who had travelled up on the flight.
B.
TRANSIT CENTRE
The following day I went with the UNHCR people (Mime Dupuy from Hong Kong and Heinonen from Hanoi) to look at the Transit Centre. My request to visit the centre was readily granted by the Vietnamese. Can and the Vietnamese officials were at the Transit Centre to receive us but we were allowed to wander at will through most of the Centre: there is a closed area which we were told contained the administrative offices and living quarters of the staff of the Centre. We could also talk freely to the repatriates through the UNHCR's interpreter (a Swede). In general, they had perked up noticeably since their arrival at the airport. They were respectful but responsive to the Vietnamese officials, in no way appearing cowed or apprehensive. In particular they gathered spontaneously about Can, who spoke to them forcefully but kindly.
We were told that the repatriates remain at the Centre for two or three days. Arriving on the Friday afternoon, those from Hanoi would begin moving out on Sunday; those from more distant localities in Hai Phong or Quang Ninh Provinces on the Monday. The inward processing at the Centre includes an explanation of the government's policy on repatriation and of the criminal law and
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