Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Khmer Krom: Continue to Lobby Govt For Citizenship, Aid

Khmer Krom asylum seekers in front of the UNHCR office in Phnom Penh (Photo: The Prey Nokor News)
Monday, 04 January 2010
UNPO

A group of 24 ethnic Khmer Krom deported from Thailand in December has resolved to continue seeking government assistance despite being denied refugee status by the UN refugee agency.
Below is an article published by the Phnom Penhn Post
Amid fears that the government may seek to deport 24 ethnic Khmer Krom to Vietnam, a rights group advocating on their behalf said Wednesday.
The group, which has said it fled to Thailand because of persecution and religious repression in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region, was deported to Cambodia on December 5. They arrived Monday at the offices of the local office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees seeking refugee status and assistance with food and housing.
A UNHCR spokesman confirmed Wednesday that they were unable to help because of a sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on December 17 that made issues related to asylum seekers the sole responsibility of the government.
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