Magazine Destroyed for Criticizing Bonn’s Refugee Policy

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has confirmed a newspaper report that copies of the agency’s latest monthly magazine were destroyed by the agency because it contained criticism of West German refugee policy.

A UNHCR spokesman said Thursday the decision was taken by the High Commissioner, Jean-Pierre Hocke, of Switzerland. Burning the magazines represented a financial loss of $56,400, the spokesman said.

The UNHCR spokesman said Hocke ruled that the issue contained articles on West Germany and its refugee policies which he considered to be “overly critical,” and lacked up-to-date information because they were written last July.