*EPF419 03/21/2002
Text: U.S. Backs Voluntary Repatriation for Montagnard Refugees
(State Department March 21 statement) (340)

The United States supports voluntary repatriation to Vietnam for Montagnard refugees in Cambodia, according to State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker.

In a March 21 statement, Reeker reiterated U.S. policy in support of repatriation, "so long as it adheres to the core principle that all repatriations must be voluntary, based on credible, meaningful pre- and post-repatriation inspections, and counseling" by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"We expect the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia to adhere to international obligations regarding the treatment of Montagnard refugees in Cambodia," he said.

Following is the text of the March 21 statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 21, 2002

STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Vietnamese Montagnard Refugees in Cambodia

The State Department has confirmed reports that the Vietnamese government sent 12 tour buses with over 400 individuals to the UN High Commission for Refugees camp in Cambodia's Mondolkiri province on March 21 to persuade Montagnard refugees to return to Vietnam. Cambodian officials admitted the visitors to the camp over the objections of the UNHCR.

The reported aggressive and unruly behavior of these Vietnamese visitors is cause for grave concern: the two governments, by acting outside the framework of usual UNHCR procedures, have demonstrated a disregard for the UNHCR's role to ensure repatriations are not subject to undue influence, coercion, or intimidation. In this case, despite the intimidating behavior only five camp residents chose to return to Vietnam. They signed statements that they were leaving voluntarily, according to the UNHCR.

We continue to support repatriation as one choice for this population, so long as it adheres to the core principle that all repatriations must be voluntary, based on credible, meaningful pre- and post-repatriation inspections, and counseling by UNHCR.

We are raising this matter with the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia.

We expect the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia to adhere to international obligations regarding the treatment of Montagnard refugees in Cambodia.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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