03/11/2002

For a year, refugees have been fleeing the Central Highlands of Vietnam into eastern Cambodia. The refugees are Highlanders—also known as Montagnards— from several ethnic groups. They report ongoing political and religious persecution. The Cambodian government has permitted these refugees to remain in rudimentary camps, in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces, along the country’s eastern border with Vietnam. In mid-February, the UNHCR instituted voluntary repatriation measures for a small number of the refugees, but this program was suspended when Vietnamese authorities abruptly suspended UNHCR’s access to the returnees.

Following these unfortunate developments, Cambodia on March 2 forcibly returned 63 refugees to Vietnam. This suspension of temporary asylum for newly arriving refugees is a gross violation of international law, and Refugees International has protested to the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and expressed our concerns to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers and Secretary of State Colin Powell (letters below).

RI will continue to follow closely the precarious situation of the Montagnards with the focus of mobilizing the international community to prevent further violations of international refugee law.

The Honorable Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Dear Prime Minister Hun Sen,

We are writing to urge you to ensure that refugees fleeing Vietnam to seek temporary asylum in Cambodia are not forced to return. We understand that several days ago more than 60 asylum seekers from Vietnam were turned away and forced into vehicles that took them back to Vietnam. Some of those returned were said to be so frightened that they tried to escape. There are also fears that Vietnamese officials arrested some of the refugees upon their return to Vietnam.

For about one year now, in accordance with international law, your government has permitted the refugees from the Central Highlands of Vietnam to remain in Cambodia. As a result, more than 1,000 refugees from Vietnam were given vital safe-haven. You and your government won international recognition for permitting refuge, despite much pressure from Vietnam on Cambodia to return the refugees. Now, unfortunately, the appearance to the world is that Cambodia is succumbing to pressure from Vietnam.

We appeal to you to permit refugees from Vietnam to remain temporarily in Cambodia, and for new arrivals to gain asylum. As you have pointed out, you were saved years ago when you were received as a refugee in Vietnam. Today there are refugees from Vietnam in Cambodia and they deserve the same life-saving opportunity— as mandated by international law.

We have also been concerned about the reported intention of the Cambodian government to conclude voluntary repatriation in the next few weeks of Vietnamese refugees in Cambodia. Given the fears of many refugees about returning to Vietnam, early return does not seem feasible. We seek your assurance that they will continue to be protected on Cambodian soil in accordance with international law.

As you are aware, the U.S. government is prepared to resume resettling refugees from Vietnam in Cambodia if this would be helpful. The international community is prepared to consider whatever else will facilitate Cambodia keeping its doors open to refugees from Vietnam.

A return to Cambodia’s adherence to international law, despite pressure from Vietnam, will benefit Cambodia as well as the refugees. We urge you to restore asylum in Cambodia for refugees from Vietnam.

Sincerely yours,

Kenneth Bacon
President
Refugees International

Ka Ying Yang
Executive Director
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

Lionel Rosenblatt
President emeritus
Refugees International

Cc: Ambassador Kent Wiedemann