asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will make representations to the United Nations to enter into discussions with the new Governments of Cambodia and Vietnam to ensure the welfare and protection of all the inhabitants of these countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Indochina Humanitarian Relief.
81.
Although hostilities in Cambodia and South Vietnam appear to have ended, the situation in those countries is not yet wholly clear as new Governments have not yet been formally installed.
I understand however that the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations agencies most directly involved in humanitarian relief work have been in contact for some time with the Government of North Vietnam and that they are also establishing contact with representatives of the new authorities in South Vietnam and Cambodia. The Secretary-General has repeatedly expressed his concern for the welfare of the civilian population and has offered maximum assistance on behalf of the various United Nations agencies.
From our contacts with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, with a representative of whom I had discussions yesterday, we understand that the humanitarian work being conducted by the United Nations relief agencies will focus on three aspects:
1. Assistance on an emergency basis to relieve distress among people in the area who have been displaced or otherwise affected by recent large-scale population movements;
2. A long-term resettlement programme for refugees within Indochina;
3. Help towards resettlement of refugees who have left Indochina.
I feel sure that the Secretary-General and the United Nations agencies concerned will work through the contacts they have established to implement these programmes fully and, in these circumstances, I do not feel it is desirable to make further representations to the United Nations on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
While I welcome what the Minister has said, I think he will recognise that my question goes a little beyond that—resettlement and assurance of guarantees. I should just like to make it clear that it is because of what one might call the rather unusual circumstances of the emergence of those two new Governments— we have not had situations like this for quite a considerable time—and not simply because those are the two countries concerned. I would have thought that probably it would be in the interests both of the new Governments and the United Nations to establish some norm whereby in accordance with the Government's expressed intention, the refugees might even return and normality be established as soon as possible. That could be done to ensure that people would not be either afraid or intimidated. Surely there should be some consultation in these unusual circumstances. We have not had such circumstances anywhere on the globe for the last ten years.
I am not quite sure whether the Deputy means consultations with United Nations agencies or——
Yes.
As I have said, I had discussions yesterday with a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, not merely on Vietnam but on other issues that arise currently, and got a very full picture of what is the position and what is happening. Every effort is being made to deal with the different aspects of the problem to which the Deputy referred. Certainly the situation is unusual. It seems to be somewhat different from the fragmentary reports we have as between Cambodia and South Vietnam but it is one which will require a very major effort to resolve all the different aspects, including aid to the areas that have suffered during the war and the very complex problem of dealing with the refugees, which is by no means a simple one. On that we have had consultations not merely with the United Nations but with other Governments as well.
I take it the Minister agrees that in the new situation such as exists in those two countries now it is important that the United Nations should retain the closest possible contact, not just to provide against poverty or distress, but also to ensure, as far as they can after consultation with the new Governments, protection of fundamental rights and the right to life as well.
There is the difficulty that neither North nor South Vietnam are members of the United Nations so the United Nations role is necessarily confined there to a relief role. There are particular difficulties there, but I agree with the Deputy.