Vietnamese boat persons in camps throughout the region, who have
few options for resettlement and are unwilling to repatriate.
According to UNHCR figures, the total number of Vietnamese long-
stayers for the region as of August 1988 was just over 5,000,
about 75% of which were in Hong Kong. This is a relatively low
figure, when compared to the presence of almost 70,000 Laotian
and Cambodian long-stayers in Thailand. However, because of
acute political sensitivities and ethnic tensions, Southeast
Asian countries are greatly concerned by the prospect of
prolonged temporary asylum for refugees from Vietnam.
In the long term other less formal arrangements, including
some form of local settlement or indefinite temporary asylum, may
become possible for Laotian refugee groups in Thailand. However,
any current discussion of this as an official agenda item for
countries in the region appears to be out of the question.
Contrary to the assertions of some refugee advocates, the
countries in the region have not pushed for a reaffirmation of
the status quo ante arrangement of an "open door" temporary
asylum policy conditioned by sustained third country
resettlement. Many have expressed concern that such an
arrangement may in fact encourage flight
--
by offering the
alternative of resettlement to would-be asylum seekers in
Indochina who may not be personally subject to persecution, but
who suffer nonetheless from extremely difficult social and
economic conditions.
7
Page 90Page 91
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.