11/19/2004

An influx of Montagnards from Vietnam to Cambodia over the last few months is creating a difficult challenge for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a tough decision for Cambodia, and potential embarrassment for the United States. Montagnard hill tribes in Vietnam have long encountered discrimination from Hanoi. Many of them helped the U.S. during the Vietnam war. They are Christians in a communist country. Their native lands have been targets of Vietnamese development plans to increase the production of coffee and other crops. They are an independent force in a land of discipline and central direction.

The harassment they face in Vietnam has prompted many Montagnards to flee across the border to Cambodia, and the refugee flow will continue until Vietnam ends its oppressive policies. In this meeting with 147 Montgnards at UNHCR Shelter 2, one of four UN shelters in Phnom Penh, all but 23 told Refugees International they wanted to stay in Cambodia. Many said they would stay in Cambodia until the UNHCR gets them their land back in Vietnam, which is beyond UNHCR's authority.