Thirteen ethnic Montagnards from Vietnam seek refugee status in Cambodia

24 November 2014
Radio Free Asia
Ethnic minorities and indigenous people / Government / Human rights / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Interior / Social development / The poor
Charai ethnic / Khieu Sopheak / Ministry of Interior / Montagnards ethnic / United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR)

More than a dozen ethnic Montagnards are hiding in the jungles of northeastern Cambodia after fleeing alleged religious persecution across the border in Vietnam, a member of a hill tribe living in the area said Monday. The 13 Christian Montagnards, who crossed into Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province from Vietnam’s neighboring Gia Lai province, are seeking protection from the United Nations’ refugee agency to resettle in a third country, the ethnic Charai tribe member told RFA’s Khmer Service on condition of anonymity. … The Charai tribe member said that he and other villagers were worried that the safety of the 13 Montagnards might be “compromised” if the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and local rights groups do not come to their aid. …

 Joshua Lipes
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/montagnards-11242014144636.html