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Vietnam Asked to Curb Exodus of ‘Boat People’

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From Associated Press

Delegates from 30 nations have drafted a plan asking Vietnam to curtail the exodus of “boat people” from its shores, officials at an international conference said.

However, the group, which held a three-day meeting here this week, ruled out forcibly repatriating asylum-seekers who cannot show they are fleeing political persecution, officials said.

“The rules are very clear . . . whenever refugees are repatriated, it has to be on a voluntary basis,” said Jean Pierre Hocke, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees.

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The delegates laid out the measures in a draft plan for consideration at the International Conference on Indochinese Refugees, to be held June 13-14 in Geneva.

Chairman Majid Mohammed said that the plan would help “provide durable solutions to the Indochinese refugee problem.”

The draft plan suggests that Vietnam launch a campaign stressing the risks and hardships of fleeing by boat and work to end illegal departures by “boat people.” It also calls on Vietnam to make legal departures easier.

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and other countries in the region have agreed to provide temporary asylum for refugees. Western nations were urged to take in refugees left in camps.

The officials said the Vietnamese delegation had agreed at the conference to take back anyone who wants to return voluntarily.

Western delegations said they might take in additional refugees and step up financial aid to help implement the plan.

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