Urging first asylum countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) to reinstate the practice of providing refuge to all asylum-seekers from Vietnam, and for other purposes.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) ASEAN first asylum countries (defined to include any country which is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and which is the first to receive an individual seeking asylum) should reinstate the practice of providing refuge for all Vietnamese asylum-seekers, while carrying out the screening of such individuals; (2) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees should be given early access to provide humane care to such asylum-seekers; (3) no repatriation of Vietnamese asylum-seekers should occur until an internationally approved mechanism is in place to guarantee that such individuals will not be subjected to persecution; (4) forced repatriation of refugees to Vietnam should not be considered a viable option; and (5) the United States should remain committed to, and urge its Western allies to implement or continue, a generous and humane Southeast Asian refugee resettlement policy.

 
HCON 103 IH
101st CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 103
Urging first asylum countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations
(ASEAN) to reinstate the practice of providing refuge to all asylum-seekers
from Vietnam, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 26, 1989
Mr. ATKINS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Urging first asylum countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations
(ASEAN) to reinstate the practice of providing refuge to all asylum-seekers
from Vietnam, and for other purposes.
Whereas the refugee crisis in Southeast Asia remains unresolved and large
numbers of refugees continue to flee from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia;
Whereas, although Hong Kong and ASEAN first asylum countries are to be
commended for their past actions on behalf of refugees in the region,
concerns remain over the failure to provide refuge to all asylum-seekers
arriving in Hong Kong and in ASEAN member countries;
Whereas, in June 1989, the United Nations will convene the International
Conference on Indochinese Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland;
Whereas representatives of the ASEAN member countries, the United States,
Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, the European Community, Vietnam, Laos, and
other interested and affected countries gathered on March 7-9, 1989, in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Preparatory Meeting for the International
Conference on Indochinese Refugees;
Whereas the countries represented at the Preparatory Meeting unanimously
adopted a draft declaration and comprehensive plan of action to be presented
for ratification at the June United Nations Conference in Geneva;
Whereas the draft declaration agreed to by all countries present at the
meeting in Kuala Lumpur includes provisions for region-wide screening of
asylum-seekers and for the encouragement of voluntary repatriation under the
auspices and monitoring of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) of persons determined not to be refugees;
Whereas the ongoing program in Thailand for the screening of Lao asylum-seekers
has had major and continuing problems;
Whereas the ASEAN member countries have announced that all asylum-seekers
from Vietnam arriving in ASEAN countries on or after March 14, 1989, will
be screened to determine their refugee status; and
Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has demonstrated its hostility
to those leaving Vietnam illegally and, in particular, to those refusing to
return to Vietnam voluntarily: Now, therefore, be it
  Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That
  (a) it is the sense of the Congress that--
  (1) ASEAN first asylum countries should reinstate the practice of providing
  adequate refuge for all Vietnamese asylum-seekers, while carrying out the
  screening of such individuals;
  (2) early access should be given to the United Nations High Commissioner
  for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide humane care and protection to such
  asylum-seekers;
  (3) no repatriation of Vietnamese asylum-seekers should occur until a
  strong and effective internationally approved mechanism is in place to
  guarantee that such asylum-seekers will be returned in conditions of safety
  and dignity and will not be subjected to persecution in any form;
  (4) given Vietnamese attitudes toward illegal departure, forced repatriation
  of refugees to Vietnam should not be considered a viable option;
  (5) continuing efforts should be made to improve the screening program of
  Lao asylum-seekers in Thailand;
  (6) the United States should remain committed to a generous and humane
  Southeast Asian refugee resettlement policy; and
  (7) the United States should urge its Western allies to implement or
  continue generous and humane Southeast Asia refugee resettlement policies.
  (b) For purposes of this resolution--
  (1) the term `ASEAN' means the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; and
  (2) the term `ASEAN first asylum countries' includes any country which is
  a member of the ASEAN group of countries and which is the first to receive
  an individual seeking asylum.