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TELNO 318
OF 24093OZ JANUARY 90
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
INFO PRIORITY HKGOS GENEVA, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, BRUSSELS INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
HANOI
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
1. YOU AND OTHER RECIPIENTS MIGHT HAVE SEEN PRESS REPORTS RECENTLY CONCERNING AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY TWO PEOPLE AT THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON 19 JANUARY. THE FACTS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
2. THE TWO PEOPLE CONCERNED WERE MEN AGED 27 AND 21 WHO HAD BEEN INFORMED IN LATE DECEMBER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SCREENED OUT. WHILE ATTENDING A MEETING AT THE UNHCR OFFICE AT WHITEHEAD ON 19 JANUARY THEY BOTH ATTEMPTED TO SLASH THEIR STOMACHS AND WRISTS WITH HOME MADE KNIFES. THE SUCCEEDED IN INFLICTING INJURIES TO THEMSELVES AND BOTH WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. ONE WAS DISCHARGED LATER THE SAME DAY BUT THE SECOND REMAINS IN HOSPITAL. THEIR INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE THREATENING BUT WE HAVE TREATED THE INCIDENT AS AN ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE. THE TWO PEOPLE CONCERNED HAVE SAID THAT THEY WISHED TO PROTEST AT THE SCREENING RESULT AND THAT THEY WERE DEPRESSED ABOUT THEIR PREDICAMENT.
3. WE HAVE TAKEN THE FOLLOWING LINE WITH PRESS ENQUIRIES.
QUOTE.
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WISH TO SEE DETAINEES INFLICTING INJURIES UPON THEMSELVES. IT IS MISGUIDED OF THEM TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR FEELING IN THIS WAY. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WILL NOT CHANGE AS A RESULT OF SUCH PROTESTS. THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR REFUGEE STATUS WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES IN VIETNAM.
UNQUOTE.
WILSON
YYYY WASHINGTON PLEASE PASS HKGO SAN FRANCISCO
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