Autumn 1995, p 9. Generally they have succeeded. Most Vietnamese remaining in the camps know that there is no other option than a return to Vietnam. The message has certainly been received - but it has not produced the desired effect.
People still stay in the camps.
Some still cling to a futile hope. Many have lost the capacity to make rational decisions for themselves after years of living in a largely dysfunctional social environment. Still others opt to stay, preferring not to return and face the shame of failing to fulfil a personal dream, or guilt of disappointing the hopes of those who invested in their journey overseas. Camp populations in Thailand and Malaysia were recently segregated according to individuals' attitude to repatriation. In zones housing those who refuse voluntary return, conditions are much more severe than for intending returnees.