TNAG-2329-FCO40-3373-Hong-Kong-contacts-with-academics-and-writers-1991 — Page 136

not be too

"The requirement of evidence should

strictly applied in view of the difficulty of proof inherent in the special situation in which an applicant for refugee status finds himself. Allowance for such possible lack of evidence does not, however, mean that unsupported statements must necessarily be accepted as true if they are inconsistent with the general account put forward of his case.

11

This makes obvious sense. But is there not a need to make the evidence presented to the Immigration Officer and RSRB more reliable and safe? And could there not be a need to clarify on that basis the method and approach to be adopted by them both? And how does one then define AVS's representative role?

There may be room for a shift here as well.

6.6.6.

In relation to the criteria

(a)

(b)

(c)

In

There may be a problem in the way in which the criteria are applied in relation to an asylum-seeker's political opinions. I hope in due course to examine who in Vietnam may actually become the targets of state authority once their "attitude" is noted. other communist countries, a citizen could be marked out as someone who impeded "progress" (or whatever the local synonym was) for quite ordinary things. If so, this could have political consequences which might affect a claim for refugee status. believe that it is fair to say that this way of going about things is the inevitable consequence of a system which holds that "truth" is represented by the will of the Communist Party. Does it happen in Vietnam? I suspect it does.

I

The following propositions are ones I should like to test: Once the smooth-running of some things is impeded, or even where an official (of perhaps a very junior rank) feels irritated or threatened, it can present a challenge to doctrinal certainties; and perhaps in order to show faith, he or she in turn may feel compelled to take action against a grumbler or petty nuisance. Thus, what is "ordinary" to people who live in free societies can be very "political" indeed to the authorities of a system where so much is justified in textual and ideological terms.

Hence, I suppose, we have the "total" in "totalitarian"; and it can apply in the system of punishments, without necessarily being noticeable by outsiders judging a place on its economic opportunities or apparent lifestyle. And given the character of the means of control in communist countries, the discipline and sanctions brought to bear on "nuisances" may render the context of their actions or words very political indeed.

I can test the above only by travelling to Vietnam, and this I hope to do in due course. Thus, I must make it clear that on this issue too, I have yet to do detailed research. My concern stems