CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
EG
110234
MDHIAN 5441
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FM HONG KONG
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TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
RECEIVER
Y
что
TELNO 13
22 FEB 1990
OF 06110OZ FEBRUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
DESK
INDEX
CER
HA
RY
.aken
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
1. WE HAVE RECEIVED A DISTURBING REPORT FROM A JOURNALIST HERE ABOUT THE ALLEGED ILL TREATMENT OF A PERSON WHO HAS RETURNED TO VIETNAM UNDER THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. THE JOURNALIST CLAIMS TO HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF A LETTER FROM THIS PERSON IN WHICH HE ALLEGES THAT HE HAS BEEN HELD IN A RE-EDUCATION CAMP SINCE HIS RETURN TO VIETNAM. THE REPORT IS SAID TO HAVE REACHED THE LOCAL OFFICE OF THE UNHCR.
2. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON THIS REPORT BUT THE FACT THAT THE INFORMATION HAS COME FROM A JOURNALIST SUGGESTS THAT THE STORY IS ABOUT TO BREAK. AS WITH A SIMILAR REPORT WHICH APPEARED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES SOME WEEKS AGO, WE DOUBT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ALLEGATION. NONETHELESS, IF THE STORY BREAKS IN ITS PRESENT FORM IT COULD DO A GOOD DEAL OF DAMAGE TO THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. IF THE REPORT DOES SURFACE IN THE LOCAL PRESS WE SHALL NEED TO BE IN A POSITION TO ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE AND AUTHORITATIVE RESPONSE (HOPEFULLY, A DENIAL) IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNHCR. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND ANY LIGHT YOU CAN THROW ON THIS.
WILSON
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ΜΑΙΝ
63
DISTRIBUTION
67
VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION
LIMITED
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MR GILLMORE
MR BLATHERWICK
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