Vietnam and Cambodia to stop Montagnards from fleeing
HANOI - Vietnam and Cambodia will work together to stop hilltribe people from fleeing the communist nation's restive Central Highlands across the border into Cambodia, state-controlled media reported Tuesday. The agreement was reached at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday that included leaders from the two countries' 22 border provinces. It came after more than 200 members of ethnic minority groups, collectively called Montagnards, escaped into Cambodia following Easter weekend protests.
Cambodia and Vietnam "agreed to coordinate closely in preventing and handling the issue of people crossing the borders illegally ... in fighting crimes and groups which are involved in terrorist activities along the borders,'' the Labor newspaper quoted a joint statement as saying. At the conference, chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Cambodian counterpart Sar Kheng, the countries also agreed to increase cooperation among provincial government officials and security forces.
Tens of thousands of Montagnards, mostly Christians, took to the streets of Daklak and Gia Lai provinces in April to protest government restrictions on their religion and ancestral lands. International rights groups alleged at least 10 protesters were killed in the demonstrations, but Hanoi maintained only two died after being struck by rocks thrown by other protesters. Hanoi blamed the U.S.-based Montagnard Foundation for instigating the Central Highlands unrest.
The organisation is run by a former guerrilla who fought alongside the Americans during the Vietnam War. "Hostile forces continue their sabotage activities aimed at causing instability in the two countries, particularly in the border areas,'' Dung was quoted as saying at the conference.
The two countries also agreed to promote trade, education and health care cooperation among the border provinces.
The Associated Press - September 14, 2004
|