Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Tue, 1 Sep 1992 08:42:50 -0500
From:         Max Becherer <becherer@SUNA0.CS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Comments on Refugees
X-To:         SEASIA-L@msu.edu

      Regarding the huge numbers of refugees I referred to, I was talking
about the millions who have fled since the Communist takeover in 1975, not
just the ones currently imprisoned in Hong Kong.
      As for the so-called reforms in Vietnam, most of my closest friends are
Vietnamese refugees, some of them fled their homeland very recently, and all
are unanimous on one thing: the reforms are a sham.  True, there have been
some moves to liberalize the economy, but these are half-measures born more
of desperation than sincerity.
      Politically speaking, the Hanoi regime has absolutely no intention of
democratizing the country.  You need only read their own words in the Foreign
Broadcast Information Service (FBIS).  Vietnam remains one of the most
politically oppressive countries in the world, with absolutely no indication
that Hanoi will willingly reform.
      As for the issue of forced repatriation, I would still like to restate
my question: what happens to people who refuse to leave ?  Though I must
admit it is pure speculation, is it not possible that "firmer" forms of
persuasion are used well out of view of the press ?

      Also, do you really think that the EEC, the United States, and other
Western powers would derail their normalization plans just because Hanoi is
brutalizing a few returnees ?  Perhaps I'm a little cynical, but it seems to
me that governments don't consider human rights to be a very important factor
in their geo-political equasions.  The failure on the part of the world to
sufficiently punish China for Tienanmen Square and the brutality that
followed is a good case in point.

      Finally, on the issue of documentation, what kind of documentation do
you have in mind ?  Also, if we are going to turn SEASIA-L into rigorous
forum, you have a few unsubstantiated facts of your own I'd like to ask about.

      For Instance: "Vietnam appears to be changing, with expanding ties, as
sometimes related in this list, with the fall of the USSR and consequent
effects in Cam Ranh Bay, and there is hope that a more stable future may be
envisioned with the re-integration of Vietnam into the world community."
About all thas says is that Hanoi is in deep trouble (something I already
knew).  What kind of evidence do you have that Vietnam is really changing ?
As for your vague hope of a "more stable future", the kind of "stability"
Hanoi is trying to achieve is the stable perpetuation of Communist rule in
Vietnam.  That's hardly desireable. (Again, read the FBIS reports.)

      You also speculate that Hanoi's desire for normalization will prevent it
drom harming returnees.  If hanoi thought the world cared enough about the
boat people to act, perhaps you would have a point.  Unfortunately, as I said
earlier, the refugees are seen as a problem, a problem that many in the world
community would like to sweep under the rug.  (Hong Kong is not the only place
guilty of mistreating Boat People).

      One last point, I'd like to know how some people can justify coddling
brutal regimes such as the one in Vietnam.  It would be grounds for an inter-
esting debate on the Net, wouldn't it ?

      Max Becherer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
      becherer@suna0.cs.uiuc.edu
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