Friday, December 17, 2010

UN Seeks Extension for Montagnard Site

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 16 December 2010
“We hope that we will get a favorable response from the Cambodian government.”
The UN office for refugees is Phnom Penh has requested an extension to keep open a center for Montagnard refugees, as it seeks to settle the last of a wave of asylum seekers that began in 2001.

The closure of the UNHCR center would mean an end to that program, after thousands of refugees fled Vietnam, especially between 2001 and 2004.

Many of the Montagnards, who were friendly to US forces during the war with Vietnam and said they had suffered under the Vietnamese government, have resettled in the US.


The Foreign Affairs Ministry had ordered a Jan. 1, 2011, close date for the site, but the UN has asked for a three-month extension.

A government spokesman said Cambodia was considering the request, with a decision expected next week.

Sixty-two asylum seekers who were granted refugee status remain at the site, while another 14 who were not recognized as refugees will be sent back to Vietnam.

The closure of the sight will mean an end to a program that has already moved nearly 1,000 refugees to third countries, after they complained of oppressive treatment in Vietnam and fled across the border. About 750 were sent back to Vietnam.

Kitty McKinsey, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, said the agency needs more time to process those who remain.

“We hope that we will get a favorable response from the Cambodian government” to the extension request, she said.

Naly Pilorge, director of the rights group Licadho, said she was surprised to hear of the site’s closure. Cambodia has an obligation under UN agreements to recognize and protect refugees, she said. “We would like the Cambodian government to provide further explanation and justification on how they took this decision,” she said.

Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the site had lasted “long enough,” adding that the government wanted it closed “to avoid more refugees” coming to Cambodia.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

KI and most viewer in this bloge has same attitud, street wild thug, you Sam rrainsy give me the list what you have don for khmer coomunity 1 to 5 what is it? except rainsy you are master at criticising, excellence in blaiming, and great job in spread hatreat, you are so wrong rainsy. rainsy you soround yourself with street wild pal, how you convince people to support you, if your team are so goofing off, and so disorganizing.

Anonymous said...

To 8:30AM

What you have said is nothing in comparison to what AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave mother fucker in trying to break down Sam Rainsy as a human being, target Sam Raisy for assassination, and sentence him to years in prison for telling the truth according to the jungle law! How much more AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave mother fucker want to break down Sam Rainsy?

You can said that AH HUN SEN Veitcong slave are so organized after been in power for 30years through bloody military coup and killing and beytraying his political rival which is a trademark of a thug! And you fail to mention that? Something is wrong with your brain! Too much salt in your brain?

Anonymous said...

that true Sam rainsy should chang, he have to show people good sample or role model for people to beleive on his leadership skill, I lke him and alway wanted to see him stronger than this, he must stope taking it is time to act properly and efficiency. he must chang himself to better perfoment, Sam rainsy sofar he not well cooporate with people he will fail if he not going to chang

Anonymous said...

To 9:03AM

In Cambodia...If the leader has the army and the police and the Cambodian people will have no choice except to vote for this leader. Otherwise bloody military coup is on the way! Now I know that Cambodian people like most people in the world want to live in peace!
This is not about Sam Rainsy because this about Cambodian people who want to change. And the Cambodian people know too well that by choosing to change Cambodian leadership and they will risk their life!

I believe Cambodian people will have to wait and play dumb, deaf, and blind just to live in peace. This is the life of animal.

Anonymous said...

MR. HUN SEN!!!
JUST ONE SUGGESTION.
BE HUMAN TO ANY REFUGEES REGARDLESS
OF MONTAGNARDS OR KHMER KROM...
DON'T BE JUST A VIET DOG.

Anonymous said...

ah kwack should not allow to be part of UN! motherfucker is criminal killer!

Anonymous said...

Was/is ah Hun Sen Khmer Rouge?
Yes,he was/is Khmer Rouge.
The killer is still a killer.
Without Viet govt support,ah Hun Sen will be out of power.
Why he always won election?
The high level officials threatened the low officials,and the low officials the villagers.
-Sometimes they gave some clothes,a small sack of rice,
-Or they did not vote for Hun Sen,at night,Hun Sen gangsters looted anythings they wanted.

Khmer Farmer in Mongkolborei.
Tell you the truth.