TNAG-1972-FCO40-2805-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 92

THE 1989 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDOCHINESE REFUGEES

Events affecting asylum seekers in Southeast Asia during the

past year have provoked an international outcry of concern,

particularly with regard to the tragic instances of loss of life

and the more general erosion of the consensus which had ensured a

modicum of protection for persons in flight. On the other hand,

the difficult predicament of countries offering temporary refuge

in the region has been highlighted; and it has become clear that

international attention must be refocused on a set of issues

which are no longer being adequately addressed by arrangements

designed to deal with the particular emergency circumstances of

1979. An important though unintended consequence of recent

developments has been that all of the concerned parties have been

compelled to action and constructive dialogue, in a situation

which had essentially been static for much of the last eight

years.

Broad international support has been given to ASEAN's appeal

for a new conference on refugees. The countries concerned have

expressed hope that such a conference will be successful in

addressing the rapidly deteriorating asylum situation by framing

a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the problems that

continue to compound the crisis. The conference, to be convened

in Geneva by the U.N. Secretary General, is tentatively scheduled

for mid June of this year.

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