HELPFUL GVN RESPONSE TO MONTAGNARD RESETTLEMENT:

UNCLAS HANOI 000762 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, PRM (PAM LEWIS),DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM VM CB ETMIN HUMANR SUBJECT: HELPFUL GVN RESPONSE TO MONTAGNARD RESETTLEMENT: "THEY CAN CHOOSE RESETTLEMENT OR REPATRIATION" ¶1. (U) ACCORDING TO THE MFA SPOKESPERSON AND A VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY PRESS ARTICLE, MONTAGNARD "MIGRANTS" NOW IN CAMBODIA CAN "CHOOSE" RESETTLEMENT IN A THIRD COUNTRY OR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 00762 010847Z REPATRIATION. IN HER MARCH 31 STATEMENT, THE MFA SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT ANY "MIGRANTS" WHO WISH TO RESETTLE IN A THIRD COUNTRY WOULD BE "ASSISTED WITH THE NECESSARY FORMALITIES, FOLLOWING PREVIOUS PATTERNS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNHCR, VIETNAM AND OTHER RELATED COUNTRIES." THOSE WHO WANT TO REPATRIATE TO VIETNAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO DO SO UNDER A "COOPERATIVE PROCEDURE" BETWEEN VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, AND THE UNHCR. ¶2. (U) THE MFA STATEMENT AND THE PRESS REPORTS DID NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION US INVOLVEMENT. RATHER THE FOCUS WAS ON THE GVN AND RCG AGREEING TO GIVE THE "ILLEGAL MIGRANTS" A CHOICE AND THAT RESETTLEMENT OR REPATRIATION SHOULD BE DONE ON A HUMANITARIAN BASIS AND NOT BE POLITICIZED "OR USED AS A TOOL TO UNDERMINE THE INTERESTS AND SECURITY OF VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA." ¶3. (U) THE STATEMENT NOTED THAT HARSH CONDITIONS IN THE CAMPS RESULTED IN SOME PEOPLE REPATRIATING ON THEIR OWN. THE STATEMENT ALSO REITERATED CRITICISM OF THE UNHCR FOR WITHDRAWING "UNILATERALLY" FROM THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) THE GVN REACTION IS HELPFUL AND SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF A PROBLEM THAT HAS DAMAGED VIETNAM'S RELATIONS WITH BOTH THE U.S. AND CAMBODIA. A FACE- SAVING MOVE, IT APPEARS THAT THE GVN IS PUTTING THE BEST LIGHT POSSIBLE ON A SITUATION WHERE ITS ABILITY TO AFFECT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 00762 010847Z THE OUTCOME TO ITS LIKING HAS BEEN OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS ON THE GROUND. BURGHARDT UNCLASSIFIED