The people complained the soldiers of a yet unspecified mechanized and artillery unit with some dependents helped themselves in harvesting the rice crop despite pleas from the people. It was further alleged the soldiers held the people. who complained. at bay with the use of teargas grenades and threats of booby traps.... From the evidence of these memorandums. it appears that the refugee programs are neartotal shambles. The refugees are being herded around. because the Saigon government wants to establish control over one area or another. Sometimes the peasants are allowed to return to their villages. only to find that the fields have not been cleared of mines and booby traps. and that such assistance is not forthcoming from the Saigon government. Other refugees have found that even after planting their cropsas in the case aboveARVN troops loot the harvest. allegedly to prevent its falling prey to the PRG. I believe that the United States has a responsibility to the refugees and other victims of the Indochina war. I am not convinced. however. that the current programs are a satisfactory response to these obligations. It seems to me. on the basis of evidence such as that I have offered on this occasion. that the Congress should initiate a fullscale. broadly based investigation of the refugee programs. and the use of American funds which are intended to be of assistance to refugees. but more often than not. it seems. are not. We as Members of Congress should not allow the continuing. and tragic. scandal of U.S.-flnanced "refugee programs" to continue without far closer supervision and substantial reform.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees