>SUBUD ORGANIZATION
>https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1975OSLO02089_b.html
RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
>1975 May 23, 10:09 (Friday)
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AMUND HOFF BERGE, THE SCANDINAVIAN PRESIDENT OF A RELIGIOUS-
PHILOSPHICAL ORGANIZATION CALLEDSUBUD, CAME TO THE EMBASSY
ON MAY 20 TO REQUEST THAT IMMIGRANT VISAS BE ISSUED TO 29
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO, "ARE FIGHTING A BATTLE WITH TIME",
SINCE THEY ARE IN GREAT DANGER OF BEING SENT BACK TO VIETNAM
AGAINST THEIR WILL. BERGE SAID THE 29 VIETNEMESE ARRIVED IN
A SMALL BOAT AT A MARINE BASE IN SOUTHERN THIALANDA FEW DAYS
AFTER THE FIGHTING STOPPED IN VIETNAM. THEY ARE BEING
ASSISTED BY ARED CROSS REPRESENTATIVEIN BANGKOK,FREDRICK
SCHJANDER, WHO IS TRYING TO PERSUADE THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY
TO ACCEPT THEM AS REFUGEES.
2. MR. BERGE SAID THAT ASUBUDREPRESENTATIVE IN BANGKOK HAS
CONTACTED I.C.E.M. AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO FINACE THE TRIP
BY THE 29 VIETNAMESE TO NORWAY IF THEY ARE GRANTED REFUGEE
STATUS. BERGE SAID, HOWEVER, HE WAS SURE SOME OF THE GROUP
WILL WANT TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOR THIS REASON,
HE CAME TO US FOR ASSISTANCE.
…
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EMBASSY OFFICER SPOKE ON MAY 22 WITH VRAALSEN, CHIEF OF
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION SECTION IN FOREIGN MINISTRY WHO
CONFIRMED THAT THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN BANGKOK HAS BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH THAI AUTHORITIES. THAIS HAVE ASSURED
NORWEGIANS THAT VIETNAMESE WERE NOT IN DANGER NOR WOULD THEY
BE COMPELLED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. VRAALSEN SAID THE
NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE PRESENT,IS NOT CONSIDERING
ANY FURTHER ACTION, SUCH AS GRANTING REFUGEE STATUS TO THESE
VIETNAMESE. HE SAID THEIR IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS FOR THE
SAFETY OF THE VIETNAMESE AND THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN
BANGKOK HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO APPROACH THE THAI OFFICIALS
AGAIN TODAY ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
ACTION REQUESTED:
WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING ANY PERTINENT BACKGROUND IN-
FORMATION POST HAS ON THESE 29 VIETNAMESE WHO APPARENTLY
HAVE TRIED TO IMMIGRATE TO THE STATES. VRAALSEN ALSO
REQUESTS THAT WE PASS ON ANY INFO WHICH WE MAY HAVE ABOUT
THE WELFARE OF THE 29 VIETNAMESE.
FOR DEPARTMENT:
MR. BERGE SAID THAT ASUBUDREPRESENTATIVE IN NEW YORK HAS
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO SAID
THAT ANY REQUEST BY MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP TO COME TO THE
UNITED STATES WOULD BE FAVORABLY CONSIDERED.
BYRNE