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>>16882293

>https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1975OSLO02089_b.html

RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

>1975 May 23, 10:09 (Friday)

1. 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.

…

1. 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