As a war of words continues to ensue between Vietnam/Cambodia and the UNHCR, the Montagnard people remain in dire straits, suffering from the harsh treatment of the Vietnamese government. Unfortunately, by the time that Vietnam/Cambodia and the UNHCR reach any sort of agreement acceptable to both parties, all of our people in the Central Highlands could be dead. What good would come of all this negotiating if our people are dead? This situation is very familiar to our people: In order to avoid international censure, when North Vietnam invaded our Central Highlands in 1975, the Vietnamese government closed the Central Highlands for ten years in order to absorb our lands and destroy our people without interference.

On "March 6, 2002 (Reuters) - Vietnam rejected a critical human rights report by the United States, calling it a "cynical distortion" by a country that was not even a member of the U.N. Human Rights Commission". Because the US was voted out of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, does Vietnam really feel that they are now free to violate the Human Rights of Montagnards? Is it true that only State Members of the U.N. Human Rights Commission can complain of human rights violations? On March 2, 2002, Cambodian police forcibly deported 63 Degar refugees despite the efforts of UNHCR staff to take them to a U.N. refugee camp. It is quite obvious that the Cambodian authority ignores and disrespects the U.N. organization, and disregards its obligations as a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Article 1 of the 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as "A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.." Yet, Hanoi/Phnom Penh has labeled all Degar asylum seekers as common criminals and "illegal migrants". It is obvious that both Vietnam and Cambodia have ignored international laws and escalated their oppression of the Degar people since the United States of America has been voted out of the U.N. Human Rights Commission. Their action proves that no one in the Commission at the present time is either willing or has power / authority to prevent the Vietnamese from openly annihilating our race.

In a cowardly attempt at defense, Cambodia has accused UNHCR of smuggling Degar people to Cambodia, a claim which is not only untrue, but absurd - just another attempt to please Hanoi by the Phnom Penh. Furthermore, Cambodian police recently assaulted Degar asylum seekers with electric batons at one of U.N. refugee camps when they spoke out against the intended repatriation. ( Read our latest press release ) Meanwhile, Hanoi has ordered U.N. monitoring teams out of the Central Highlands. And along with Phnom Penh, Hanoi has announced a deadline of April 30 for the return of all asylum seekers under U.N. care in Cambodia. UNHCR has said the agreement which was signed by Vietnam/Cambodia and the UN earlier this year has been "seriously eroded" by Hanoi and Phnom Penh after they bilaterally set a deadline April 30 for the return of all asylum seekers in Cambodia.

In recent weeks, Vietnam has sent thousands of more soldiers into Degar villages and is also parading the 61 "voluntary returnees" in the villages in the attempt to terrorize our people by telling the villagers: "No country, even the UN can help you now. You better obey what we tell you or will die". Moreover, may we ask what has happened to those 15 persons who were repatriated by the UNHCR on February 19, 2002? Are they being treated in the manner of human beings? Have their houses, properties, and their lives been returned to them as Hanoi has deceived the UNHCR into believing?

There has been a pouring of outcries from world communities concerning the way Degar refugees are being treated and the gross violations of international law by Phnom Penh and Hanoi. Consequently, a controversial agreement between UNHCR, Hanoi and Phnom Penh to "repatriate" Degar asylum seekers was suspended recently after strong criticism from the international communities. UNHCR is well aware that the safety of any and all returnees is dubious.

We believe that the Cambodian authorities are responsible for these incidents and they must be held accountable. The UNHCR staff must accomplish the work they have been appointed to perform. The Montagnard Foundation is calling for the world communities to investigate the outrageous behavior of Phnom Penh and Hanoi, and to reassess the reliability and integrity of the UNHCR and their responsibility to protect human rights.