Written by Neth Pheaktra
The Phnom Penh Post
BUDDHIST monk Tim Sakhorn met with officials from the Bangkok office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday, following roundups of Khmer Krom refugees by Thai authorities last week.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Krom Human Rights Association, said that due to the UNHCR's special protection protocols, tightened after the arrests of 61 Khmer Krom in Bangkok last Saturday, it was not possible to reach Tim Sakhorn for comment Thursday.
But he said the Khmer Krom activist, who fled from Cambodia in April, expects his application for political asylum in the US to be finalised on Saturday.
Ang Chanrith added he was working with Thai authorities to prevent the deportation of the arrested Khmer Krom, who had been either recognised as refugees by UNHCR were under consideration or otherwise receiving support from the office.
"We have requested the Thai authorities not to send the Khmer Krom back to either Cambodia or Vietnam.... We are working with [the Thai government] to make sure these ethnic Khmer are safe while waiting for their asylum to be processed," he said.
"With the protection of the UNHCR and the Thai authorities, they wouldn't face the threat of deportation, even if they are arrested."
A report issued by Human Rights Watch in January 2009 documented human rights abuses and the "severe and often shrouded" methods used to stifle dissent amongst the ethnic Khmer minority in southern Vietnam.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Krom Human Rights Association, said that due to the UNHCR's special protection protocols, tightened after the arrests of 61 Khmer Krom in Bangkok last Saturday, it was not possible to reach Tim Sakhorn for comment Thursday.
But he said the Khmer Krom activist, who fled from Cambodia in April, expects his application for political asylum in the US to be finalised on Saturday.
Ang Chanrith added he was working with Thai authorities to prevent the deportation of the arrested Khmer Krom, who had been either recognised as refugees by UNHCR were under consideration or otherwise receiving support from the office.
"We have requested the Thai authorities not to send the Khmer Krom back to either Cambodia or Vietnam.... We are working with [the Thai government] to make sure these ethnic Khmer are safe while waiting for their asylum to be processed," he said.
"With the protection of the UNHCR and the Thai authorities, they wouldn't face the threat of deportation, even if they are arrested."
A report issued by Human Rights Watch in January 2009 documented human rights abuses and the "severe and often shrouded" methods used to stifle dissent amongst the ethnic Khmer minority in southern Vietnam.
7 comments:
During Vietnam war, Khmer Kampuchea Krom help US fighting against vietcong communist! if American could MHONG"Tribal" people immigrated to USA, Why US can't help Khmer Krom People?? alot of US soldiers were save by Khmer Krom people during the war...
correction = US could help MHONG people, and why they can't help Khmer Krom people?
I remembered US brought alot of MHONG people to US, because during the war they help US fighting the vietnamese!...alot of MHONG people lived in state Minnesota
Yep,
I agree! why US or UN can't help bring them over to the United State? because these people can not stay in cambodia or back to vietnam...?
USA IS BROKE! CAN'T HELP ANYMORE SORRY! TOO MUCH DEBT!
They should stay put in the land of their ancestors and defend it against the vietnamese from taking over.
Well, Don't blame me for I am of course the son of a slut, adulteress, fornicatress, hussy, jade, and loose woman Viet...
Let it be known that I have a mission here and that is to destroy KI-Media for the benefit and welfare of the CPP new Viet-khmer people under the leadership of Hun Sen, got that?
PPU
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