Speech #1040069956

Mr. Speaker. recently this body voted in section 2104 of H.R. 1561 to withdraw its support from the Comprehensive Plan of Action. the international agreement on the Indochinese boat people in Southeast Asian refugee camps. This Members effort. along with Mr. OBEY of Wisconsin and Mr. LAMAR SMITH of Texas. to strike this dangerous and irresponsible provision was unsuccessful. While this Member fully understands and shares the desire to provide fair and humane treatment to those in the refugee camps. the action of this body could well have the opposite effect. By giving these asylum seekers false hope of resettlement in the United States. this legislation presents the following dangers. It will likely encourage another wave of boat departures from Vietnam. putting people at risk on the high seas and swelling the relugee camp population at a time when the first asylum countries are attempting to close the camps. The legislation also increases the chance for violence In the refugee camps by causing discontent among the camp residents when their hopes of resettlement in the West are not realized. Finally. the bill has caused the collapse of voluntary repatriation. through which 72.000 Indochinese have already returned home without evidence of persecution. according to U.N. and American nongovernment monitors in Vietnam. Already there have been riots and violence in the camps of Hong Kong and several hundred camp residents have changed their minds and are refusing to return to Vietnam. For these reasons. this Member believes that. for the 40.000 camp residents whom the United Nations has determined to be economic migrants rather than political refugees. voluntary return to their countries of origin Is not only the sole option available. it Is also the most humane option. Mr. Speaker. this Member would ask to insert into the RECORD an article from the May 24. 1995 edition ol the New York Times. entitled. "U.N. Links G.O.P. to Boat Peoples Riots." and an excellent letter analyzing the problems in section 2104 from the Refugee Policy Group. a nongovernment organization with much experience dealing with Indochinese refugees.