Forced Return of Montagnard Asylum Seekers

Forced Return of Montagnard Asylum Seekers

The United States views with concern the forced return of 94 Montagnards from Cambodia to Vietnam on July 20. We have raised U.S. objections to this involuntary repatriation with both the governments of Cambodia and Vietnam.

We are disappointed that these individuals were repatriated before an internationally-staffed monitoring program was in place in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and before other solutions could be considered for these individuals.

We urge the Government of Vietnam to immediately allow international monitors to observe Montagnard returnees in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Source: state.gov ### 2005/717 Press Statement, Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman, Washington, DC, July 20, 2005

more at Montagnards or Vietnam and Cambodia and State Department or Department of State