Boat people still seeking homes

Press, 20 October 1978, Page 8

Boat people still seeking homes

From the “Economist,” London

Britain’s decision this month to give permanent sancturary to 346 “boat people” from Vietnam was the neat ending to a refugee story that went right. It began, like countless others, with a collection of novice sailors from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) taking to the open sea and losing two of their three small boats within 48 hours.

Then these people turned lucky; they were spotted by a British cargo ship which accepted the delay and dis* comfort of a six-hour sea rescue; and they were taken to Taiwan where they were showered with relief supplies.

Generosity all round. But what made it all work was the standing guarantee from the British Government to

admit to Britain any refugees who are rescued by British ships and have nowhere else to go. Only seven other countries have bolstered their sea captains with a similar public pledge: the United States, Norway, West Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden and Greece. Japan has made the same promise on the quiet.

Ships without such a guarantee can be liable for the refugees themselves; so can the countries where they are unwillingly dumped — which is why so many ships are still passing floundering boat people by, and why so many neighbouring countries are reluctant to let them land.

One way to save lives would be through an international scheme to in-

demnify shipowners against losses and liabilities from sea rescues.

Countries need some sort of international underpinning as well. Malaysia, for example, has suddenly found itself burdened with the largest single colony of boat people because it does not turn refugees away. Thailand used to be the favourite landing place until late last year, when the Thai Government turned tough; and local pirates, rumoured to be assisted by local police, set upon hapless Vietnamese boats carrying all their owners’ portable possessions, sometimes in the form of gold bars. One reason why the trip has become more dangerous now is that the Vietnamese head farther out to open sea to avoid Thai waters.