Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 10, May 18 - 31, 2007
An "internal change in priorities" at USAID has cut funding for the Returnee Integration Support Project (RISP), which will soldier on with limited resources until Septmeber 8, 2008, before ending operations.
Some 2,100 Cambodian nationals are still set for deportation from the US to Cambodia. With the end of RISP, the newcomers will be left without any services upon arrival.
"They have cut millions across the board," said RISP director Dr George Ellis, speaking about the shift in USAID funding priorities. "It wasn't just us. Our final funding will come in September. Subsequent funds will not be forthcoming."
Without funding it will no longer be possible to maintain many of the services that RISP currently provides. The problem is most acute for those who depend on RISP's mental health services, some of whom, because of their condition, cannot live unaided in Cambodian society.
"A substantial part of our budget goes on maintaining the Special Needs House (SNH)," said Ellis. "What will happen if this place closes? The guys living there can't survive on the streets, I don't know what will happen to them."
Holly Bradford, founder of Korsang, a local harm-reduction NGO that employees about 20 returnees, said there is a small but significant number of returnees who are entirely dependant on the SNH.
"There tend to be one or two in every group that is sent back to Cambodia who have serious mental health problems," she said. "They really can't cut this part of RISP's program - those guys need the SNH and the care it provides. To take it away and leave them to fend for themselves would be a massive violation of their human rights."
Aside from an emphasis on the importance of maintaining the SNH, reactions from the returnee population to RISP's funding cut has been muted, a result, perhaps, of the somewhat ambivalent relationship between the project and its purported beneficiaries.
"When the RISP program was set up I thought it would provide useful support but it didn't," said one Korsang-employee and returnee who goes by the name of Wicked. "Instead, I looked to the other returnees for advice and support on what's going on."
RISP has provided support to newly arrived returnees, for example, temporary accommodation, food, and help with finding employment. But the project has proved unable to help many returnees with the essential task of navigating Cambodian bureaucracy.
"Many of our [returnee] staff don't have Cambodian ID cards or passports," said Bradford. "But they really need them. It would have been good if RISP could have helped them with getting the documents they need."
Many returnees have found that it is advice from their fellow returnees, not from the US-funded integration project, that has proved most valuable in helping them adapt to Cambodia.
"We really turn to one and other for support not, to RISP," said a returnee who goes by the name of Chan. "We all look out for each other. I learn a lot from the guys who have been here for a while, it helps me a lot."
Some argue that the fact that returnees themselves have emerged as the best people to help other returnees integrate and adapt to Cambodia should guide any future evolution of RISP.
"It has to be a returnee run organization," said Bradford. "They know what is best for them. They just need a little guidance. I'd like to see the whole project [RISP] returnee run."
Ellis said that RISP was already "a structured, competent returnee-run program."
Bradford wants Korsang to become an entirely returnee-run organization in the not too distant future.
"I am going to leave as soon as the [returnee staff] are ready to take over," said Bradford. "That is what this whole thing is about. It is for the returnees. It's there project."
To achieve this aim, Korsang are keen to build a stronger working relationship with RISP
"We can't hire every returnee that arrives," said Bradford. "If they keep coming sporadically then it might be ok, but we want to collaborate with [RISP] more."
Over the last 18 months, two plane loads of returnees, totaling 24 people, have arrived in the Kingdom. One of the biggest challenges that RISP has tried to address, is how to help people who have been deported against their will to develop a sense of citizenship in Cambodia, said Ellis.
Closer collaboration with Korsang might help RISP to address this challenge. The front-line harm reduction work with intravenous drug users that the NGO carries out has proved a remarkably effective way of helping new arrivals both understand Cambodian society and come to terms with this new stage of their life.
"It works well to help the [returnees] find work in a way that can give back to Cambodian society," said Bradford. "These kids grew up in America, they are not fatalistic Buddhists. They believe in redemption."
Developing projects which enable returnees to make a positive contribution to Cambodian society could also help dispel the general ambivalence that many donors feel towards RISP.
"It's a tough sell," said Ellis. "How do you make convicted felons a worthy recipient of funds?"
Bradford, who has just secured a large UNICEF grant for Korsang, which will allow the NGO to incorporate dance, music, and art activities into their harm reduction program, says it is easy.
"I think the big problem with RISP was that they just didn't know what they should do," she said. "I think they need to create more projects like Korsang. For example, programs that work on gang intervention, child protection. These guys [the returnees] are amazing, they have great skills, and Cambodia needs their skills. There is no one doing this kind of front line work at the moment."
Thun Saray, president of local human rights NGO Adhoc, said that developing mechanisms which allow returnees to make a positive contribution to Cambodian society is essential.
"We must help them understand Cambodian society and the mentality of the Khmer people," he said. "They should be helped to become active members of our society, as if they are isolated and marginalized, this will create problems in the future - we need to help them integrate."
Many people, both in Cambodia and America, take the view that returnees "screwed up their chance and got what they deserve," said Ellis. But the absurdity of this view becomes apparent when the situation is put into its broader context, he said.
"Go back 30 years," he said. "These people were traumatized in Cambodia, then sent to a country where they didn't understand the religion, language or politics, they didn't have the same social capital, they were stigmatized."
But the returnees want neither sympathy nor handouts from RISP, said Wicked.
"We just need someone to work with us," he said. "Don't be afraid of us, we are more scared of you than you are of us, we just want someone to guide us and bring out our talent, to give us a break."
Some 2,100 Cambodian nationals are still set for deportation from the US to Cambodia. With the end of RISP, the newcomers will be left without any services upon arrival.
"They have cut millions across the board," said RISP director Dr George Ellis, speaking about the shift in USAID funding priorities. "It wasn't just us. Our final funding will come in September. Subsequent funds will not be forthcoming."
Without funding it will no longer be possible to maintain many of the services that RISP currently provides. The problem is most acute for those who depend on RISP's mental health services, some of whom, because of their condition, cannot live unaided in Cambodian society.
"A substantial part of our budget goes on maintaining the Special Needs House (SNH)," said Ellis. "What will happen if this place closes? The guys living there can't survive on the streets, I don't know what will happen to them."
Holly Bradford, founder of Korsang, a local harm-reduction NGO that employees about 20 returnees, said there is a small but significant number of returnees who are entirely dependant on the SNH.
"There tend to be one or two in every group that is sent back to Cambodia who have serious mental health problems," she said. "They really can't cut this part of RISP's program - those guys need the SNH and the care it provides. To take it away and leave them to fend for themselves would be a massive violation of their human rights."
Aside from an emphasis on the importance of maintaining the SNH, reactions from the returnee population to RISP's funding cut has been muted, a result, perhaps, of the somewhat ambivalent relationship between the project and its purported beneficiaries.
"When the RISP program was set up I thought it would provide useful support but it didn't," said one Korsang-employee and returnee who goes by the name of Wicked. "Instead, I looked to the other returnees for advice and support on what's going on."
RISP has provided support to newly arrived returnees, for example, temporary accommodation, food, and help with finding employment. But the project has proved unable to help many returnees with the essential task of navigating Cambodian bureaucracy.
"Many of our [returnee] staff don't have Cambodian ID cards or passports," said Bradford. "But they really need them. It would have been good if RISP could have helped them with getting the documents they need."
Many returnees have found that it is advice from their fellow returnees, not from the US-funded integration project, that has proved most valuable in helping them adapt to Cambodia.
"We really turn to one and other for support not, to RISP," said a returnee who goes by the name of Chan. "We all look out for each other. I learn a lot from the guys who have been here for a while, it helps me a lot."
Some argue that the fact that returnees themselves have emerged as the best people to help other returnees integrate and adapt to Cambodia should guide any future evolution of RISP.
"It has to be a returnee run organization," said Bradford. "They know what is best for them. They just need a little guidance. I'd like to see the whole project [RISP] returnee run."
Ellis said that RISP was already "a structured, competent returnee-run program."
Bradford wants Korsang to become an entirely returnee-run organization in the not too distant future.
"I am going to leave as soon as the [returnee staff] are ready to take over," said Bradford. "That is what this whole thing is about. It is for the returnees. It's there project."
To achieve this aim, Korsang are keen to build a stronger working relationship with RISP
"We can't hire every returnee that arrives," said Bradford. "If they keep coming sporadically then it might be ok, but we want to collaborate with [RISP] more."
Over the last 18 months, two plane loads of returnees, totaling 24 people, have arrived in the Kingdom. One of the biggest challenges that RISP has tried to address, is how to help people who have been deported against their will to develop a sense of citizenship in Cambodia, said Ellis.
Closer collaboration with Korsang might help RISP to address this challenge. The front-line harm reduction work with intravenous drug users that the NGO carries out has proved a remarkably effective way of helping new arrivals both understand Cambodian society and come to terms with this new stage of their life.
"It works well to help the [returnees] find work in a way that can give back to Cambodian society," said Bradford. "These kids grew up in America, they are not fatalistic Buddhists. They believe in redemption."
Developing projects which enable returnees to make a positive contribution to Cambodian society could also help dispel the general ambivalence that many donors feel towards RISP.
"It's a tough sell," said Ellis. "How do you make convicted felons a worthy recipient of funds?"
Bradford, who has just secured a large UNICEF grant for Korsang, which will allow the NGO to incorporate dance, music, and art activities into their harm reduction program, says it is easy.
"I think the big problem with RISP was that they just didn't know what they should do," she said. "I think they need to create more projects like Korsang. For example, programs that work on gang intervention, child protection. These guys [the returnees] are amazing, they have great skills, and Cambodia needs their skills. There is no one doing this kind of front line work at the moment."
Thun Saray, president of local human rights NGO Adhoc, said that developing mechanisms which allow returnees to make a positive contribution to Cambodian society is essential.
"We must help them understand Cambodian society and the mentality of the Khmer people," he said. "They should be helped to become active members of our society, as if they are isolated and marginalized, this will create problems in the future - we need to help them integrate."
Many people, both in Cambodia and America, take the view that returnees "screwed up their chance and got what they deserve," said Ellis. But the absurdity of this view becomes apparent when the situation is put into its broader context, he said.
"Go back 30 years," he said. "These people were traumatized in Cambodia, then sent to a country where they didn't understand the religion, language or politics, they didn't have the same social capital, they were stigmatized."
But the returnees want neither sympathy nor handouts from RISP, said Wicked.
"We just need someone to work with us," he said. "Don't be afraid of us, we are more scared of you than you are of us, we just want someone to guide us and bring out our talent, to give us a break."
35 comments:
Enough talking already! Just cut the damn rope and let these returnees die! If people really care so much about these returnees they wouldn't put these returnees in this situation right now!
I must admit that that being a human is tough and life can be vicious and brutal! Please don't blame other except yourself!!!! Yes! There are things that are beyond your control and a lot of things happening in the world are like that!!!For example the tsunami, the Earthquake, the hurricane, the monsoon, the muddslide, the flood,
You must deal with all the bad, the good and the ugly of life and may God have mercy on you!
That is terrible wrong to cut such fund. How these returnees can survive without a start up fund? Area Prey
I feel sad and ashamed that those Cambodians who survived the KR regime and settled in the US where many opportunities were offered to them, turned to be criminals and deported to their home country. How can they change their way of life and start a new life without any financial and social assistance?
Upon returning, they'll likely to be criminals again in Cambodia. In general, among the different group of refugee people (Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, etc.) who immigrated to the West from refugee camps, Cambodians have done very poorly. In general, they don't work as hard and can easily be brain washed. Sure you can blame on a lot of things for those screwed up assholes. You can blame the US gov't for giving them too much freedom, for not providing them with good jobs and for failing to recognize their problems and deal with it in the beginning etc.... but the truth is, these bastards were given a chance like anyone else to have a good life, maybe not like a movie but at least enough food to eat, free education, a place call home, etc.. (not paradise but compare to where they or their parents came from, it's much better) so instead of growing up to become a good and responsible citizen contributing back to their adopted country, they have turned to the dark side (look cool, act cool). They're not only giving themselves a bad name but to the whole community as well. There are a lot of people whom we should feel sorry for in this world but we should not feel sorry for these bastards. They got their chance, they brew it and they have to pay for it. If they turn criminals again, put them back where they belong, JAIL!.
6:06, the US is the only country
that does this on the planet, and it
is wrong. You can't expect everyone
to do good. There will always be
some number of people left behind
in any group of people, white,
latino, or Asian ... . Just deal
with it as you deal with white group
that is left behind and stop using
double-standard here.
Furthermore, I don't care about the
fund because it will cost us a lot
more to clean up the shits that
those criminals will created here.
One solution for the returnees from USA:
If they paid every week or biweekly to MEDICARE and SOCIAL SECURITY FUND while they worked, the fund ought to be returned to them when they are deported because they don't have chance to use these benefits when they are retired. So they can use the money to resume their new lives in Cambodia.
Yeah, but they should do that in
the US, not here.
6:06Pm,
I strongly agreed with you. The US is the land of opportunities. There is no-one gun pointed to choose his/her life in this land. Everyone is freed choose a path. And i believe that everyone is responsible for his/her own action.
My brother chose to smoke crack/weed/elicit Rx, and that was his choice. He chose not to have a life. So, no one in the family accepted him. One of these day, he'll be ending it up in the beggar society, Cambodia.
BLAME NOT SOCIETY, GOVERNMENT, FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT YOURSELF!!!
Yeah! People who commited criminal acts, Gave up their rights. Jail is the rightful place they chosen.
7:13
It's not only the U. S. deporting their foreign criminals. All the European countries do it too, but only after they served their prison term. But then again, European countries put a lot of emphasis on rehabilitation so that not a whole lot of people get deported, except the really incorrigible repeat offenders. In the U. S., they don't care what you do with your life when you get out of prison or after you have been deported. That's just the mentality in that country. It doesn't excuse the choices people make when they turn to crime. You got to pay for it one way or the other. And I am not so sure whether the Cambodians are really prone to the problem. I believe across the board they don't fare any worse than other Asian minorities in the U. S.
Wrong, 9:56, those are not foreign
criminals. They are the US
Permanent Resident with Social
Security benefits and whole nine
yards. Plus, the US had never
deported any Permanent Resident
before either. The stupid law was
only innacted less than 10 years
ago. So, who are you trying to
kid? The stupid law needed to be
abolished. We are not the US
dumping ground.
On the other hand, I have no
objection to the return of anyone
who stayed in the US illegally
with expired Visa. Whether or not
they are criminal, they should all
be returned, period.
Again and again, Cambodia can choose to refuse to accept these deportees back. But, intead it kowtows to the Superpower that uses the legal loophole to hide its shifty deal.
We wonder how big will the handout be for the stupid Cambodian government to agree to such a careless act.
The Cambodian politicians could not care less since they all live in big mansions. It is the life of poor ordinary Cambodian citizens that is going to be affected and threatened upon the return of these ex criminals. The crime rate in Cambodia will increase. Soon , in Cambodia, one will hear a lot of Hollywood styles of gangland shootings, killings, rape, kidnaps etc...
Do we want this to happen in our own backyard? If not, is there something that we can do about it now?
Soon we will hear Hollywood shit?
Where have you been, mate? So many
people have been killed by
motorcycle shooting, car
shooting,... . Where did you
suposed that came from?
And all the pornography DVD,
magazine, ... Where did that came
from?
And teenage idiots who recently
killing their aint who lodged and
feeded them. Where did that came
from?
And now we are going to get a
bunch of losers on top of what
we can't barely handle? I tell
you, it might be a while before
the sun will shined in Cambodia.
And where did you hear about
officials taking bribe to accept
criminals from the US?
Yes, it will be a long while before the sun will shine again in Cambodia, not in your lifetime though.
You must be stupid to think that Cambodia is a corrupt free country.
Where did I think Cambodia is
corrupt free? And yes, the sun
will probably never shined in
Cambodia with too many of your
idiots around. We need to get your
stupid Ah Khmer-Gringo outta here.
Where did you hear officials taking bribes: it is a very stupid question to ask...
Do you think that officials taking bribes would admit that they did it?
OK, let the sun shine on Cambodia just for you.
12:34
Even permanent residents are foreign nationals. And if you read that statute you will find out that a green card can be revoked by the U. S. government. Permanent residents are not citizens. Even citizens when convicted of a serious felony lose part of their civil rights, e. g. the right to vote, to form a party, etc. The U. S. has always deported people back to their own country. Previously it was mostly if they were war criminals, like the German Nazis.The U. S. government can also strip any naturalized citizen of their U. S. citizenship. So, what I tried to point out is this is not a Khmer problem, this is a U. S. problem which also affects Khmer. And you have to realize that these people, whether criminals or visa overstayers, are Khmer first, and everything else second. So there actually is only one place where they can go - namely to their own homeland. And check out 7:00's comment. Read the police blotter in the Phnom Penh Post how much crime is committed by Khmer on Khmer. Don't lay the blame on anybody else's doorstep. What world do live in?
Wrong, the US ambassor has clearly
stated that the US will not
deported US citizen. Stop spraying
shits here. As for those Permanent
Residents, they are well qualified
to become the US citizen, but they
are not getting a drop of
assistance to file for the
citizenship. The Evil Empire just
toke thousand of dollars of their
taxes and gave them shit in return.
11:23
You should read thoroughly before you respond. It seems the only one spraying shit is you. Permanent residents are not well qualified automatically, they must pass a test, as simple as it is, to become citizens.
929, are you trying to bluff people by saying that the government can strip the citizenship from any naturalised person? Where did you get that from? Can you name the act to support your claim?
1123, you are absolutely right. Not everyone knows how to apply for citizenship and so on, as a result they got caught with the system. The Cambodian welfare groups in US did not work hard enough to promote and raise this type of awareness...
Thanks 5:21, and still for the
taxes that the US is getting from
those people, they should have done
whatever it takes to help them pass
the necessary test to be a citizen.
Is is really a big deal? I mean
do they have to be a rocket
scientist to be a US citizen?
603, there is no need for you to thank me as we as khmers love khmers. Remember that, you will do good to your brothers, sisters and parents and should be proud of your intention and deed. Follow your heart and let your head work it out afterwards. May Thevada bless you in everything you do...
Geee ... that is very kind and
considered of you to be so
thoughtful of Khmer people. I don't
what to say, 2:59. I am sure there
are more people like us somewhere
who can help our people out of the
messes. We just needed to find
them and wake them up. I don't
believed for a moment that God
gave us such a huge burden to
help Khmer people with so few
blessed people. Do you know what I
mean?
And thanks for your best wishes,
and may Thevada lookouts for you
and your family too, in the same
manner as you look out for his
Khmer people.
5:21 You can find the information in the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1996. If you lied in your application for a visa, or permanent residence, or citizenship, that status may be revoked. This is the simple reason why such obviously foolish questions like, "Have you ever been convicted of a criminal act?" are asked on your visa application. Who would answer that truthfully if he/she indeed were? But if you are caught later the government has grounds to revoke that visa.
Check with the Department of Justice how many such cases occurred since 1945. You would be amazed how many there are. The information is public domain so it can be obtained by simply inquiring at the DoJ. Sometimes it seems as if people who know a little bit about these things aren't credible on this forum simply because it is against the pre-conceptions of some.
Cut the bullshit, 9:21, there are
millions of people who filed for
US citizenship in the US. Do you
know how much it cost to
investigate each person to see
whether or not they are telling the
truth? I say easily, billions
and billions. Stop pulling our
legs here. You don't got what it
takes, Dude.
12:17 - You must be the same one. You just don't read the posts properly. I am sure I got more of what it takes than you. You sure sound like an immature ignoramous.
921, have I ever told you not to be so much arrogant? Just cut the crap out, no need to try to defend your ignorance.
Since you try to know it all, could you make up some more stories to explain as of why the US has never deported any Cubans or Vietnamese?
921, have I ever told you not to be so much arrogant? Just cut the crap out, no need to try to defend your ignorance.
Since you try to know it all, could you make up some more stories to explain as of why the US has never deported any Cubans or Vietnamese?
Cut the crap, buddy, but Okay, I
tell you what, since your stupid
law was innacted in 1996 (which is
only about 11 years), I supposed
it aint that grossly unfair to
take people who commited crime
after 1996 back on condition that
you don't take accept anymore
Khmer as Permanent Resident or
anything else from now one, unless
you'll commited to keep them for
good or for worse. Does that
sounds fair? Again we are not your
dumping ground where you can take
our people away and not looking
after them, allowed to turn to
criminal, and returned them to
haunt us. You got that, moron?
Aside from that, I noticed Ah Sam
Nazi is awfully quiet about all
this. Usually, he urged the
government to do this and that, but
I guess he's for accepting
criminals to victimized Khmer
People instead of his bleu-eyed
people abroad. Isn't that so?
See 5:12 There you go again. You don't know anything about this. The U.S. government has deported Cubans, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. You just don't hear about this on this forum. Of course, these are Communist countries, and the U. S. really wants to keep quiet about this. This is not about who is right or who is wrong, this about getting the facts straight. Cambodians are just like any other minority in the U. S. You are not a special case because you suffered so much. Many other people did too.
5:26 That's about right. The U.S. won't take any more Cambodians than it would any other nationality. You got to prove that you are going to be responsible people. In the future it will be more employment-based, say, education oriented than family-oriented. Each family has some black sheep, right? (Not only Cambodians, though)So where does that leave you?
857, I have never heard anything about the Vietnamese being deported, so please state the facts and not fiction...
You have been missing the point all along the way: The US can do whatever with the deportation enforcement, but Cambodia can always refuse to agree to this returnee program...There will nothing that US can do and it cannot force Cambodia into accepting the deportees either.
Please get your local congresspeople to explain to you more about international law...
9:36, 8:57 was talking about cuban
mexican, chinese, ..., or
vietnamese who sneak into the US
by ship, boat or what have you to
look for work. Yes, they did
deported them back, but I certainly
never heard of the US deporting
any Permanent Resident back. In
particular, Khmer criminals, before
the late 90's.
As for the international laws, I
don't think it will do us any good.
The problem is they threat to cut
off trade with us that worth close
to half of our GDP.
9:03, the people that the US is
deported back, supported the US
in fighting communist expansion.
Is that how you thank them? Doesn't
their lifes mean anything?
Furthermore, we don't need to prove
shit to the fucking US. Just stop
taking anyone from here, alright?
9:36
Anybody writing about the U. S. and international law should know that the U. S. doesn't really care about international law, at least not for the last 7 years. This country is so self-centered that they don't think about anything but themselves. If Cambodia doesn't take their own people back, there will be consequences for sure, e. g. trade cutbacks, and the deportees will languish in deportation detention for years. Isn't there a humanitarian side to this too? Whatever happens, nobody will win, no matter how angry many of you seem to be. After all they are Cambodian, aren't they?
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