Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 26 which urges all countries in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations [ASEAN] to reinstate the practice of providing refuge for asylum seekers from Vietnam. I commend Chairman SOLARZ for bringing it to the floor at a most propitious time. The International Refugee Conference will convene in Geneva in less than 2 weeks and it is important that Congress provide guidance for delegates to that important meeting. Thousands of boat people continue to flee Vietnam despite their certain knowledge that the chances of resettlement. or even survival. are desperately slim. This has placed an onerous burden on surrounding countries. which have begun to react by turning refugees away. I recognize that the solution to this problem lies in an improvement in the political and economic situation within Vietnam. We must continue to pressure the Government of Vietnam to abolish its system of reeducation camps and to guarantee basic freedoms to its people. As we encourage these changes within Vietnam. however. we must not close the doer to Vietnamese refugees who are currently seeking refuge. We must offer encouragement as well as financial support for efforts by Southeast Asian governments and United Nations refugee services to handle this immediate concern. We must not shut the door on people who have nothing left but hope for a better life outside Vietnam. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
Keywords matched
asylum seekers refugee Refugee refugees