NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE HELD IN MONDOLKIRI PROVINCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 002072 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; BANGKOK FOR RMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016 TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL KN VM CB SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN REFUGEE HELD IN MONDOLKIRI PROVINCE Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Margaret McKean; Reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The Cambodian press reported on November 22 that Cambodian provincial police in Mondolkiri province arrested a North Korean man in the past week. According to press reports, a senior Cambodian police official confirmed the arrest, added the North Korean was deported to Vietnam the same day and refused further comment. However, two Amcit NGO workers based in Mondolkiri contacted the Embassy on November 22, claiming that the North Korean man was still in Mondolkiri and is due to be transported to Phnom Penh very shortly. The two men met the North Korean, who provided them with bio data and a request for assistance. The South Korean Ambassador has told us that they are working closely with the RGC to quietly move him to South Korea. His wife reportedly was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on November 9; UNHCR will look into what might be done concerning her case. Church World Services (CWS) is aware of the plight of the North Korean and his wife. End Summary. North Korean Enters Mondolkiri -------------- ¶2. (C) On November 22, the Cambodia Daily reported that a North Korean man entered Cambodia's Mondolkiri province from Vietnam in the past week, and was arrested by Cambodian provincial police on immigration charges. According to a senior police source contacted by the Daily, the North Korean was deported to Vietnam. Deputy National Police Commissioner Sok Phal was quoted as saying the provincial authorities made no attempt to determine his identity, nationality, or possible claim to political refugee status; rather, as the individual lacked a passport and any documentation, he was returned to Vietnam. Provincial police sources provided only sketchy information, claiming that they were unaware of the case. The provincial coordinator for the human rights group ADHOC, Sam Sarin, allegedly indicated that he had heard about the case from local police officials, but had no detailed information. ¶3. (C) Also on November 22, two Amcit NGO workers based in Mondolkiri contacted the Embassy through the human rights NGO LICADHO, and Pol/Econ Chief met them at LICADHO's offices. Recently arrived from Mondolkiri, the two men explained that a relative of a senior provincial police official had alerted them to the arrest of the North Korean, and invited them to meet with him at a local restaurant where the North Korean is reportedly staying. The two men did meet with him, and the North Korean asked for assistance to come to the United States. The two men provided Pol/Econ Chief with a note from the North Korean that included bio data for himself and his wife, and a request to go to the United States. The two men also provided photos of the North Korean to verify that he was still in Mondolkiri. They explained that the Cambodia Daily article was inadvertently due to their contact with Daily reporter Eric Wasson, who was vacationing in Mondolkiri at the time. The two men mentioned the North Korean to Wasson, and asked for advice as to how best assist him, and which NGOs to contact. ¶4. (C) However, both men denied that Cambodian officials have deported the North Korean; they said that their contact with the Mondolkiri police told them that provincial officials were under instruction to keep him in Mondolkiri until after the South Korean President departed the country. Following ROK President Roh's departure, he is to be sent to Phnom Penh (nfi). The two Amcits added that they have emailed friends at Church World Services in Washington, DC regarding this case. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador contacted his South Korean counterpart, who confirmed that the North Korean was still in Cambodia, and that his government would be working quietly with the RGC to ensure that the North Korean is moved to South Korea. Pol/Econ Chief met with UNHCR director Thamrongsak Meechubot, who was not surprised that the Cambodian government had told the press that the North Korean had been returned to Vietnam. He noted the RGC provided a similar story several years ago when several North Koreans were detained in Phnom Penh; the group was actually sent to South Korea. Pol/Econ Chief provided the biodata of the wife, and Thamrongsak said that he would confer with UNHCR colleagues as to what UNHCR might do to assist in her case. Comment -------------- PHNOM PENH 00002072 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) The news story indicated that the North Korean had expressed interest in going to South Korea, not the United States. We suspect that his note requesting assistance to go to the United States was likely more a function of the two NGO workers being American. His liberal treatment in Mondolkiri by provincial authorities coupled with the ROK President's just-completed visit to Cambodia suggested that the RGC planned to be cooperative on his eventual resettlement outside Cambodia. The ROK Ambassador's assurances that they are quietly engaged with the RGC on this case are consistent with the good working relationship that the South Korean government has established with the Cambodian government concerning North Korean refugees. MUSSOMELI