ASIAN REFUGEES U.N. to hear of their plight

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 17

ASIAN REFUGEES U.N. to hear of their plight

(N.Z.PA. -Reuter —Copyright/

NEW YORK, September 27. The British Foreign Secretary (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) will refer to the United Nations the plight of Uganda’s Asians in an address to the General Assembly today.

There has been speculation that he may propose that the body of the 132 nations should take up as an urgent, humanitarian item the consequences of President Amin’s expulsion order against more than 50,000 Asian residents in Uganda. The British Government, which has made plans to receive most of those holding United Kingdom passports, wants an extension of the November 8 deadline set by General Amin for the Asians’ departure, and it has also been trying to secure arrangements for safeguarding the refugees’ property and assets.

Although the Uganda situation has not vet been raised in the Assembly’s general debate. which opened on Monday, the Secretary-General (Dr Kurt Waldheim) has been quietly working on the problem for several weeks, ft was an important subject of discussion when Sir Alec Doug-las-Home called on him on Monday.

Another part of the British Foreign Secretary’s speech, according to informed sources, will deal with the problem of terrorist violence, a dominant topic at the United Nations since Dr Waldheim placed it on the agenda after the Munich massacre of 11 Israeli sportsmen early this month. Sir Alec Douglas-Home is expected to emphasise that terrorism is now a worldwide problem, and that coun-ter-action should not appear to be aimed solely at any single group or faction. The enlarged European Economic Community, and its role as a world force, will provide the third main theme of the Foreign Secretary’s address, the sources say.

Late today there will be a meeting of the Security Council on Rhodesia, at the request of its three African members, Guinea, Somalia iand Sudan. The tightening of 'sanctions against the Smith i regime is expected to be the 'main focus of the debate.