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OVER 50
MONTAGNARD REFUGEES TRAPPED ON CAMBODIAN BORDER WHILE VIETNAMESE ARMY &
CAMBODIAN POLICE HUNT THEM DOWN
In an undisclosed
location a group of over 50 Montagnards or Degar people are hiding in
terrible conditions along the jungle (border) areas of the
Cambodian/Vietnamese border. The Montagnard Foundation has just received
specific information these men, women and children are starving, sick
and exhausted. They are pleading for help from the UNCHR and
international community. To make matters worse the Cambodian
authorities are arresting Montagnard refugees and handing them to
Vietnamese police for cash bounties.
These Montagnard
Christian refugees risk being shot by Vietnamese soldiers. If arrested
they will be imprisoned and beaten. One of the preferred methods of
torture by Vietnamese police and army is electric shock torture.
Recently on
July 21, 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 these human rights
violations against Montagnard refugees. 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.”
He 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, the US State Department have all confirmed these
human rights violations against 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.”
The situation facing these and other
Montagnards is at a crisis point as the Cambodian border is patrolled
by Vietnamese soldiers while inside Vietnam Montagnard villages remain
under martial law where soldiers persecute them for practicing
Christianity. Untold numbers of Montagnards have been beaten, tortured
and others murdered in what appears part of a sophisticated form of
ethnic cleansing by Vietnam. The Montagnard Foundation urgently
requests that:
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The
UNHCR and international community please take urgent action and try to
save the lives of these 52 Montagnards. It is the duty of UNHCR in
Cambodia, according to the 1951 Convention on the Protection of
Refugees to get food, water, medicines and protection to these
unfortunate persons before the Vietnamese authorities get hold of them.
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The
government of Cambodia, the United Nations, democratic Governments and
foreign donors should do their utmost (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 these and other Montagnards are likely
going to be arrested, tortured or killed. |
