RESTRICTED
HKB
24314
RECEIVE
29
107565
MDHIAN 5399
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 437
22 FEB 1990
DESK (
INDEX
MA
OF 06080OZ FEBRUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
21
YOUR TELNO 297: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : SUICIDE LOTTERY
1. WE AND UNHCR HAVE CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION AT WHITEHEAD INTO THE REPORTS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING INTIMIDATED INTO TAKING PART IN SUICIDE LOTTERIES. THE REPORTS SEEM TO HAVE COME FROM VOLUNTARY WORKERS IN THE CAMP BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS. CSD AND UNHCR HAVE INTERVIEWED QUITE A NUMBER OF INMATES AT WHITEHEAD, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY TRIED TO INJURE THEMSELVES, AND ALL HAVE DENIED THE REPORTS.
2. ONE OF THE 4 MEN WHO INJURED HIMSELF LAST WEEK HAS AGAIN USED A HOMEMADE KNIFE ON HIS STOMACH. HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HE HAS DENIED THE REPORTS THAT THIS LATEST ATTEMPT TO INJURE HIMSELF WAS THE RESULT OF INTIMIDATION. HE CLAIMS THAT HIS ACTION IS SIMPLY A PROTEST OVER SCREENING AND MANDATORY REPATRIATION. ANYONE WHO DOES MAKE A CLAIM ABOUT BEING INTIMIDATED WILL BE IMMEDIATELY MOVED, WITH THEIR FAMILIES, TO ANOTHER CAMP.
3. THERE IS A MECHANISM, VIA THE UNHCR FIELD OFFICERS OR THE CAMP MANAGEMENT STAFF, WHEREBY PEOPLE WISHING TO VOLUNTEER FOR REPATRIATION BUT WHO FEAR INTIMIDATION CAN BE MOVED IMMEDIATELY TO LO WU. LO WU IS OVER-CROWDED AT PRESENT BUT WE WOULD FIND ROOM FOR SUCH PEOPLE IF THE NEED AROSE.
4. WE HAVE PREPARED A PLAN TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE CAMP FOR TROUBLEMAKERS AT UPPER CHI MA WAN. CSD AND THE POLICE ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 600 PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE MOVED TO A TROUBLEMAKERS CAMP AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS PLAN INTO OPERATION BEFORE THE PRESSURE OF NEW ARRIVALS LIMITS OUR ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE.
WILSON
YYYY
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