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TRAINED COUNSELLORS AS HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFINITIVELY SCREENED-OUT. WE SUSPECT THAT THE PROBLEM LIES ONCE AGAIN WITH THE UNHCR. THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO COOPERATE WITH US IN A CO-ORDINATED INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, AND DESPITE HAVING FULL-TIME COUNSELLING STAFF, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO PROMOTE THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME, OUR IMPRESSION IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT ACTIVELY DONE SO, AND HAVE CERTAINLY NOT COUNTERED EFFECTIVELY THE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN WAGED BY SOME NGOS, WHICH WE AGREE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.
E. (PARA 34) WE MUST, HOWEVER, REFUTE THE CLAIM THAT, ONCE TRANSFERRED TO PHOENIX HOUSE, THE NON-VOLUNTEERS WERE DENIED EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER. THE 51 WERE ALL IN PHOENIX HOUSE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, MANY OF THEM FOR SOME MONTHS. UNHCR HAD REGULAR ACCESS TO COUNSEL THEM ABOUT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. ONE FAMILY OF SIX DID VOLUNTEER, AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO LO WU CAMP TO AWAIT A VOLUNTEER FLIGHT. ALL THE REST HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO DO THE SAME AT ANY TIME DURING THEIR STAY AT PHOENIX HOUSE (THOUGH THE ONE WHO MADE UP HIS MIND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY ONLY DURING THE FLIGHT BACK TO HANOI HAD PERHAPS LEFT IT TOO LATE).
F. (PARA 35) WE DO NOT THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE (SO FAR) TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM THAT THE FIRST REPATRIATION OF NON-VOLUNTEERS HAS GIVEN AN IMPETUS TO APPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. BUT IT IS REALLY TOO EARLY IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING MANDATORY RETURN FOR THIS TO BE JUDGED.
G. (PARA 36) THERE HAS CLEARLY BEEN WIDESPREAD MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE AMOUNT OF POCKET MONEY TO BE PAID. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. WE BELIEVE THAT IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THEM BY UNHCR STAFF THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE US DOLLARS 50/25 PER ADULT/MINOR IF THEY RETURNED VOLUNTARILY. WE ARE QUITE CERTAIN THAT ON THE AIRCRAFT IT WAS CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE US DOLLARS 30/15 PER ADULT/MINOR.
H. WE ALSO CANNOT EXPLAIN THE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHO WOULD MEET THEM AT WHICH AIRPORT. WHEN THEY WERE BRIEFED AT HONG KONG AIRPORT BEFORE BOARDING THE PLANE, THEY WERE TOLD THAT BRITISH EMBASSY STAFF WOULD MEET THEM ON ARRIVAL IN HANOI.
I. WE DO NOT THINK THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE PAYABLE PER VOLUNTEER AND NON-VOLUNTEER SHOULD AFFECT THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL RETURNEE. THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNTS PAYABLE PER HEAD IS ACCOUNTED FOR BY
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