Montagnards hiding in Cambodian forests since October now safe, UN reports

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva that the group of 13 had tried to seek asylum in Cambodia after they told local sources that they fled religious persecution in Viet Nam. However, provincial authorities in Cambodia warned that if they were caught, they would be deported back to Viet Nam.

Last week, the Montagnards had communicated that they were ready to come forward, with the presence of the UN. Early on Saturday morning, a group of eight Montagnards, including one woman, had presented themselves to a joint team of UN and local authorities.

Later that day, the UN team of three human rights officers and one driver scoured the jungle to search for the other group of five who wished to present themselves to the UN. Provincial police later informed the team that the group was being held in custody. The five were handed over to the joint team that evening.

“When our team found them, the 13 Montagnards were thin, exhausted, dishevelled and complaining of various health problems after more than seven weeks of sleeping rough on the forest floor with little to eat,” said  Shamdasani.

The asylum claims of the 13 people are now being processed by the Cambodian Government’s Refugee Department.

“We are grateful for the close collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and with our partners at the UN refugee agency (UNHCR),”  Shamdasani said. “We thank the Ministry of Interior for its cooperation throughout the past two months, in spite of the difficulties with the provincial authorities.

“We acknowledge with appreciation the cooperation of the provincial law enforcement authorities in the final instance, when they ultimately allowed the last five to apply for asylum. We will continue to work with the Government to ensure that any future cases are handled in line with the standards required by international law.”