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MDHIAN9561
4. ONE PROBLEM IS THE CAMP IN HONDURAS.
BOTH STATE AND UNHCR HAVE TOLD US THAT THE 146 BOAT PEOPLE REMAINING THERE ARE ON HUNGER STRIKE, DEMANDING TO BE TAKEN TO THE UNITED STATES OR, FAILING THAT, BACK TO GUANTANAMO BAY FOR SCREENING. THIS GROUP CLAIM THAT THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING EQUALITY OF TREATMENT WITH THOSE WHO REMAINED AT GUANTANAMO. UNHCR ARE CONCERNED THAT SOME PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE HONDURAS GROUP ARE BEING FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HUNGER STRIKE AGAINST THEIR WILL.
5.
IN A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM LEAVING HAITI BY BOAT, STATE ARE CONSIDERING ESTABLISHING A QUOTE END PROCESSING FACILITY UNQUOTE AT THE US EMBASSY IN PORT AU PRINCE. THIS WOULD PROVIDE A FULL SCREENING SERVICE FOR ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE US EMBASSY IS UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS, BOTH BECAUSE GENUINE ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE LIKELY TO BE WARY OF OPENLY VISITING THE UNITED STATES AND BECAUSE ANY NUMBER OF OPPORTUNISTS COULD QUICKLY OVERWHELM THE SMALL RESIDUAL STAFF GIVING RISE TO SECURITY AND OTHER PROBLEMS.
6.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY ARONSON ANNOUNCED ON 3 FEBRUARY THAT THE TRADE EMBARGO IS TO BE RELAXED, THEREBY EXEMPTING THE CARIBBEAN BASIN INITIATIVE ASSEMBLY INDUSTRIES FROM CONTROL. IN FUTURE THE US TREASURY WILL CONSIDER ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS ALL APPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPORT TO HAITI OF SUB-ASSEMBLIES AND MATERIALS AND THE SUBSEQUENT IMPORTATION INTO THE UNITED STATES OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT. IN MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARONSON ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CLOSURE OF THESE INDUSTRIES HAD ADVERSELY IMPACTED ON THE POORER MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. OAS REACTION TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN COOL.
7. ON THE OTHER HAND THE US ADMINISTRATION WILL NOW RETARGET THE EMBARGO UPON THOSE WHO MAY BE AIDING AND ABETTING THE DE FACTO REGIME OR ELSE ARE INVOLVED IN REPRESSION INSIDE HAITI. ASSETS WILL BE FROZEN, US CITIZENS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM HAVING FINANCIAL DEALINGS WITH THESE PEOPLE AND VISAS WILL BE WITHDRAWN/DENIED. CBI ASSEMBLY INDUSTRIES OWNED BY PERSONS FALLING WITHIN THIS CATEGORY ARE UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE THE TREASURY LICENCES NECESSARY FOR THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF THEIR RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED PRODUCTS.
COMMENT
THE RESUMPTION OF FORCIBLE REPATRIATION HAS BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED. BUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE THAT THOSE RETURNING ARE BEING
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