JUNE 19 PRESS GUIDANCES FOR THE EAP REGION
REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM HONG KONG
Q:
HONG KONG HAS REPATRIATED ANOTHER GROUP OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO VIETNAM. WHAT IS THE U.S. REACTION?
A:
WE UNDERSTAND THAT 38 VIETNAMESE ASYLUM SEEKERS WERE REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ON JUNE
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT 25 OF THESE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY. OUR POSITION OPPOSING MANDATORY AND FORCIBLE REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS THERE REMAINS UNCHANGED.
THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS PROGRAMS FOR VOLUNTARY RETURN AND RETURN WITHOUT OBJECTION WITH APPROPRIATE HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING IN VIETNAM.
TO DATE,
VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMS ARE WORKING WELL. SOME 24,000 PEOPLE HAVE RETURNED VOLUNTARILY TO VIETNAM, ALMOST 19,000 OF THESE FROM HONG KONG.
IF PRESSED
Q: WHY DOES THE U.S. HAVE ONE POLICY FOR VIETNAM AND ANOTHER FOR HAITI?
A:
THE TWO SITUATIONS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT.
IN THE CASE OF VIETNAM, A 50-NATION INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION (CPA) -- IS IN PLACE TO PROVIDE FIRST ASYLUM, TO SCREEN, TO CARE FOR, AND TO RESETTLE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE OR TO REPATRIATE THEM VOLUNTARILY. BELIEVE THAT PLAN WORKS AND SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
WE BELIEVE THAT TRUE REFUGEES IN HAITI CAN BE PROTECTED AND BROUGHT OUT. DESPITE INTENSIVE MONITORING, OUR EMBASSY IN HAITI HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY ALLEGATIONS OF PERSECUTION DIRECTED AGAINST REPATRIATED BOAT PEOPLE.
WE
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