Vietnam to allow hilltribe refugees to resettle abroad
Vietnam's government has agreed that 900 refugees stuck in camps in
Cambodia can resettle in a third country following an offer from the
US, press reports said.
"Any migrants who wished to resettle in a third country would be assisted with the necessary
formalities, following previous patterns of co-operation between the UNHCR, Vietnam and
other related countries," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh in remarks
published Monday.
"Resettlement or repatriation should be done on a humanitarian basis, and should not be
politicised or used as a tool to undermine the interests and security of Vietnam and Cambodia,"
she added.
The United States offered a new home to the hilltribes people after the United Nations pulled
out of a repatriation scheme with Vietnam and Cambodia, accusing both sides of violating the
terms of the accord.
About 1,000 people fled into Cambodia from Vietnam's central highlands a year ago after the
authorities cracked down on unrest by ethnic minorities against the confiscation of their
ancestral lands.
On Sunday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen approved Washington's offer to grant them
asylum.
"Today, the royal government of Cambodia will offer an opportunity for the Vietnamese hill tribe
refugees to go and resettle in the United States," Hun Sen said in a speech.
He said the resettlements would be voluntary, and that those refugees who did not wish to
resettle in the US could return home.
But the Vietnamese foreign ministry hit out at the breakdown in the repatriation process which
she said "had been obstructed by ill-intentioned people".
According to Phnom Penh, there are 901 refugees in two camps in Mondolkiri and Rathanakiri
provinces, after some 170 returned home -- although only 15 were repatriated under UN
auspices.
Agence France Presse - April 1st, 2002.
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