Khmer Krom Asylum Seekers protest at UNHCR

23/12/2009
by Monikhemra Chao

Khmer Kampuchea-Krom asylum seekers whom were deported from Thailand to Poi Pet city, Bang Teay Meanchey Province in 5 December, 2009, arrived Phnom Penh yesterday to protest at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) after Tri Narinn, the chief of Poi Pet City denied their asylum seekers.

Tri Narinn told that the Poi Pet authorities have found out that a group Khmer Krom asylum seekers are from Kampong Chnang, Takeo and Prey Veang province. So they have rights to return to live at their provinces. Tri Narinn told The Phnom Penh Post on Sunday, "They can continue living in Poi Pet City, but we have no land, home to offer them."

Chau Heng, a Khmer Krom asylum seeker is from Svai Tong district, An Giang province said that he would like to deny the Tri Narinn 's mention. "I am from Kampuchea-Krom. I fled to Thailand in 2008 after Vietnamese Communist had followed to arrest me. I have no relative here (Cambodia)," he said.

Heng told "Leave Freedom" that he was accused by Vietnamese authorities since 2008 when he led the farmers to conduct the demonstration to demand their farmers land. "Vietnamese government declared followng to arrest me and they can kill me anytime so that they posted my photo anywhere in Svai Tong district because they accused me against them." Heng told.

Heng said this morning that he is afraid of his fate and family when he got the Chief of Poi Pet mention. Now he arrived Phnom Penh and he has a plan to protest at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) soon.

Huynh Ut, as known Chau Ut is a refugee from the same Heng's village and the same case. "We can't live there (Poi Pet city) because we are afraid of arresting when the authorities had rejected us as asylum seekers." he said.

"Now there are two families (6 peoples) arrived Phnom Penh yesterday. We will go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Phnom Penh and appeal for help." Huynh Ut said.

When Leave Freedom asked why did other Khmer Krom asulym seekers not come Phnom Penh to protest with them? Huynh Ut told, "They have the rights to live there. They have relative and have money, but we are no! But for us, we have the real case and we are living in suffering...lack food!".

24 Khmer Krom asylum seekers were deported by Thai police after they fled to Bangkok to seek the Refugees status. Some these asylum seeker were denied from UNHCR in Bangkok. UNHCR in Bangkok ever said that Khmer Kampuchea-Krom are Khmer (Cambodian) so they can live in Cambodia after they fled from their homeland.