By Ratha Visal
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The arrival of two new groups of Montagnard people has been reported on Sunday 18 march 2007. One of the group has already reached the UNHCR office in Phnom Penh, whereas the other group is still in hiding in the forest of Ratanakkiri province, and it is looking for intervention help from international refugee organizations.
Chung Ravuth, the local UNHCR official, indicated that a group of 4 Montagnard people has reached the UNHCR office in Phnom Penh today, however, detailed information about the refugees is not available yet. “We have not yet received information over the weekend, and we just return back to work on Monday,” Chung Ravuth said.
Anonymous villagers from O’Yadaw reported that 10 refugees were spotted by the villagers in the forest. The refugees are looking for help from the UNHCR. “They are in the forest and they lack food,” the villagers claimed.
The local police authority denied they know the presence of the Montagnard people who have arrived recently.
Pen Bonnar, Adhoc investigator in Ratanakkiri, said that the villagers have reported recently the presence of the refugees whom they spotted in the forest. The villagers said that the refugees lack food and are being pursued by the local authority. “The refugees are arriving one after another. This time, the villagers are reporting that the authority went to look for the refugees. We have reported the information to the UNHCR so it can help these refugees urgently,” Pen Bonnar said.
UNHCR’s Chung Ravuth said that his organization will request the government’s authorization to visit Ratanakkiri province next week to look for refugees who have arrived recently.
On 22 Feb 2007, the UNHCR had rescued 11 Montagnard people from the O’Yadaw andPublish Bor Keo district in Ratanakkiri province. According to a UNHCR report, currently, there are more than 200 refugees located at the UNHCR refugee camp in Phnom Penh, who are awaiting for their interview to obtain their refugee status.
Chung Ravuth, the local UNHCR official, indicated that a group of 4 Montagnard people has reached the UNHCR office in Phnom Penh today, however, detailed information about the refugees is not available yet. “We have not yet received information over the weekend, and we just return back to work on Monday,” Chung Ravuth said.
Anonymous villagers from O’Yadaw reported that 10 refugees were spotted by the villagers in the forest. The refugees are looking for help from the UNHCR. “They are in the forest and they lack food,” the villagers claimed.
The local police authority denied they know the presence of the Montagnard people who have arrived recently.
Pen Bonnar, Adhoc investigator in Ratanakkiri, said that the villagers have reported recently the presence of the refugees whom they spotted in the forest. The villagers said that the refugees lack food and are being pursued by the local authority. “The refugees are arriving one after another. This time, the villagers are reporting that the authority went to look for the refugees. We have reported the information to the UNHCR so it can help these refugees urgently,” Pen Bonnar said.
UNHCR’s Chung Ravuth said that his organization will request the government’s authorization to visit Ratanakkiri province next week to look for refugees who have arrived recently.
On 22 Feb 2007, the UNHCR had rescued 11 Montagnard people from the O’Yadaw andPublish Bor Keo district in Ratanakkiri province. According to a UNHCR report, currently, there are more than 200 refugees located at the UNHCR refugee camp in Phnom Penh, who are awaiting for their interview to obtain their refugee status.
1 comment:
Why does it takes so long for the fucken UNHCR to response to the need of the Montagnard people!!!
These fucken UNHCR are waiting for the fucken Vietcong to tell them to do something!!!!
Damn them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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