On 21 July 2003 Mr Son Chhay a Member of the Cambodian Parliament of the Sam Rainsy Party called on the President of the National Assembly, Cambodian Prince Norodom Ranariddh to investigate and put an end to human rights violations against Montagnard refugees in Cambodia. The last two years has seen Cambodian authorities arresting and handing Montagnards who have fled persecution in Vietnam - back into the hands of Vietnamese authorities who imprison and torture them. Mr Son Chhay demanded the Cambodian government “answer, clarify, and stop immediately the activities that violate human rights by the Cambodian authorities because it is inhumane and violates the 1951 International Refugee Treaty, of which Cambodia is a signatory.” 

Mr. Son Chhay also confirmed the Vietnamese government is offering Cambodian authorities bounties of $66 for turning over Montagnard refugees to Vietnamese authorities. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, US State Department have all confirmed such serious human rights violations against indigenous Hill tribe Montagnards many of whom are Christians. In April 2003 Human Rights Watch reported an “escalation of repression”, facing the Montagnards inside Vietnam and released “secret” Vietnamese government documents ordering this repression http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/04/vietnam042103.htm. In May 2003 the US International Commission For Religious Freedom stated, “the increased repression of religious freedom has been reportedly sanctioned at the highest levels of the Vietnamese government.” 

Mr Son Chhay also demanded that Radio Free Asia news reports stating Montagnard corpses were found with their hands tied up floating in the Se-San Rver in June 2003 be fully investigated. It is noted in April 2003 Human Rights Watch also reported Montagnard refugees being shot and one being killed after having his skull crushed after arrest by Vietnamese police. 

The situation facing the Montagnards is dire with the Cambodian border being patrolled by Vietnamese soldiers while inside Vietnam their villages remain under martial law where Vietnamese soldiers continue rampant human rights abuses. Montagnards are persecuted for practicing Christianity and hundreds have been beaten, tortured and others murdered by Vietnamese authorities. Montagnard women report they have been targeted for coercive sugically sterilization. The Montagnard Foundation believes these human rights abuses are part of a sophisticated form of ethnic cleansing. It is noted that Mr. Son Chhay asked the Cambodian government if it would allow the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to re-establish camps in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces to protect these refugees. 

The Montagnard Foundation urgently requests that:

The government of Cambodia, the United Nations, democratic Governments and foreign donors do everything humanely possible to protect Montagnard refugees fleeing Vietnam, namely by re-establishing the UNHCR refugee camps in Ratannakiri and Mondolkiri Province and ensuring Vietnam does not continue to defy the concluding observations issued by the 2002 UN Human Rights Committee by refusing international monitors access to the Central Highlands. Unless urgent protection is granted more Montagnards are going to be tortured or killed.

 

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