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Cambodia denies it's closed the border to Vietnamese hilltribes
The Cambodia government is denying accusations it's closed the border to Vietnamese refugees fleeing repression, saying it's only trying to stop a flood of economic migrants following a U.S. offer of asylum.
A government spokesman says Cambodia will never close its borders to political asylum seekers.
The comment came in reply to a report by the group, Human Rights Watch which criticised both Vietnam and Cambodia for their treatment of ethnic minorities from Vietnam's Central Highlands.
The report documents hilltribe protests over land rights and religious freedoms that erupted last year and the ensuing crackdown, which drove hundreds of them into northeastern Cambodia.
It also accuses Vietnam of using torture, arbitrary arrests and church burnings to stamp out dissent among the mainly Christian hilltribe minorities.
More than 1,500 Vietnamese asylum seekers fled to Cambodia after the crackdown. Some 500 were forcibly repatriated,.
Cambodia agreed to allow the resettlement of 905 refugees in the United States but said it would then close its borders and dismantle the camps.
24/04/2002 13:13:07 | ABC Radio Australia News
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