CENTRAL HIGHLANDS: UNHCR TO VISIT MARCH 22; UNHCR

UNCLAS HANOI 000584

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS and PRM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF VM CB
SUBJECT: CENTRAL HIGHLANDS: UNHCR TO VISIT MARCH 22; UNHCR
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MAY VISIT VIETNAM IN APRIL/MAY

Ref: A) Hanoi 188; B) 98; C) HCMC 53; D) HCMC 72


1. (SBU) Summary: A UNHCR team will visit Gia Lai Province
March 22-23 to meet with the families of "double-backers."
The team has also requested private meetings with two
individuals who were allegedly mistreated by local
authorities. The GVN has invited Assistant High
Commissioner Erika Feller to visit Vietnam -- and the
Central Highlands -- in the April/May timeframe, but timing
may be a problem. End Summary.

Visit to Gia Lai
--------------


2. (SBU) UNHCR Vietnam Chief of Mission Vu Anh Son told
Pol/C March 14 that he and Policy Officer Giuseppe de
Vincentis will visit Gia Lai Province March 22-23 to meet
with returnees and their families. At the top of their list
are the families of the three "double-backers" -- returnees
who again crossed into Cambodia -- who have figured
prominently in recent correspondence between UNHCR and Human
Rights Watch. According to Son, UNHCR has met with the
three in Phnom Penh, but "cannot share its report from the
meeting because it is confidential."


3. (SBU) Son and de Vincentis have also requested private
meetings with two individuals who have allegedly been
mistreated by local authorities. (Note: These individuals
are MTN-406 Siu Nham, M, 1981, and MTN-277 Kpa Bo, M, 1979.
Both returned involuntarily on July 20, 2005. End Note.)
"Meeting in private with returnees is no longer a problem
for UNHCR," Son said. In addition to meeting returnees, the
UNHCR team will look into the USG-funded microprojects in Ia
Grai District. After he returns to Hanoi, Son tentatively
plans to brief local diplomatic representatives on March 27.

Senior UNHCR Visit to Vietnam?
--------------


4. (SBU) Son also said that the GVN extended an invitation
to Assistant High Commissioner (Protection) Erika Feller to
visit Vietnam in the April/May timeframe. The purpose of
the visit would be to commemorate one year (more or less) of
successful Tripartite MOU implementation (which Feller
negotiated for UNHCR). She would also take the opportunity
to visit the Central Highlands, Son said. However, timing
may be problematic: mid-April works best for her because of
other commitments in Nepal and India, but the GVN is waving
her off at that time "because of Party Congress
considerations," Son said. Sometime in early May may work
better, he surmised.

Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) Another possible explanation for GVN reluctance to
have the Assistant High Commissioner visit Vietnam, and the
Central Highlands, in mid-April is that Easter falls on
April 16. If past years are any guide, the Central
Highlands may be under close supervision at that time.

MARINE