Cablegate: New Zealand Says G-4 Ambassadors Decline To

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000855

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, EAP/ANP, EUR/AGS, EUR/NB, AND WHA/CAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND SAYS G-4 AMBASSADORS DECLINE TO
INTERVIEW RETURNED VIETNAM CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REFUGEES

REF: A. SECSTATE 198727
B. HANOI 2837

1. (SBU) On October 28, Acting DCM conveyed Ref A points to
Chris Anderson, Deputy Director of the South-South East Asia
Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She
urged that the G-4 Ambassadors visit with returned refugees
during their upcoming trip to the Central Highlands, and
noted UNHCR's support for direct interviews.

2. (SBU) Anderson phoned back late in the day on November 1
to say that the NZ Embassy in Hanoi had just informed her
that although the Ambassadors would engage local authorities
on the issue of returned refugees, they still thought it best
not to meet with individual refugees. The Embassy told
Anderson the Ambassadors believed it would be difficult to
verify the identity of those interviewed. The Ambassadors
also decided that monitoring refugees would only be practical
if done on a continuing basis, in case local authorities
later created problems for the interviewees.

3. (SBU) Anderson said that the G-4 Ambassadors would
nevertheless take along with them a UNHCR list of returned
refugees, and would visit individuals on the list if the
local authorities requested this. Anderson said the G-4
planned to brief Embassy Hanoi on their decision before their
trip.
Burnett

© Scoop Media