MONTAGNARD RETURNEES ARRIVE IN VIETNAM

UNCLAS HANOI 000671

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND PRM, BANGKOK FOR REFUGEE COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF VM CB ETMIN HUMANR
SUBJECT: MONTAGNARD RETURNEES ARRIVE IN VIETNAM

Reftel: Hanoi 215


1. (SBU) Summary: Two groups of ethnic Montagnard returnees
have arrived in Vietnam from Cambodia and returned to their
home villages. These are the first to return under the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Vietnam,
Cambodia and the UNHCR in January (Reftel). Local
authorities have reportedly questioned some of the
Montagnards upon their return, but the GVN has pledged to
halt this practice. The UNHCR has not requested to visit
the returnees. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The two groups of Montagnards consisted of nine
returnees who returned on March 11 and a further thirteen on
March 18. Vu Anh Son (protect),Officer in Charge of the
UNHCR's Hanoi office, told Poloff March 18 that UNHCR
officers had been able to observe the transfer of the
Montagnards from Cambodia to Vietnam, but could not continue
with the returnees to their home villages in Gia Lai
Province. All the returnees came voluntarily, and when one
individual changed his mind shortly before boarding the bus
in Phnom Penh, he was immediately taken off the list, Son
reported. The next group of returnees is expected in early
April.


3. (SBU) After returning to Vietnam, some of the Montagnards
in the March 11 group telephoned compatriots still in UNHCR
camps to complain that they had been questioned by local
authorities. When Son brought this up with MFA officials in
Hanoi, they pledged to look into the allegations immediately
and ensure that future returnees are not interrogated.
Separately, the MFA's spokesman stated this week that the
returnees will not be punished for having "illegally crossed
the border."


4. (SBU) Son indicated that the UNHCR, Vietnam and Cambodia
will likely hold a tripartite meeting in April to discuss
technical details of further Montagnard returns. Vietnam
has reportedly complained to the UNHCR that it is not
receiving adequate notice about the travel of returnees, and
also that the process of resettlement abroad for Montagnards
in Cambodia is proceeding too slowly. The UNHCR will likely
bring up the issue of monitoring visits to the returnees
during this meeting, Son reported.
BOARDMAN