US embassy cable - 05HANOI2411

UNCLAS HANOI 002411 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND PRM, BANGKOK FOR REFUGEE COORDINATOR, 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, VM, CB, ETMIN, HUMANR 
SUBJECT: UNHCR ACCOMPANIES REFUSENIK RETURNEES TO PLEIKU 
 
Reftel: PHNOM PENH 1519 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1. (SBU) On September 15, UNHCR Officer-in-Charge for 
Vietnam Vu Anh Son reported to Poloff that, as agreed to by 
the GVN, he accompanied the six `refusenik' returnees from 
the Cambodian border to Pleiku on September 9.  Son met the 
six at the border at 12:30 p.m. as planned and traveled with 
them and their Vietnamese escorts to Pleiku, arriving just 
before midnight.  The returnees spent the night at the local 
Department of Trade building. (Note:  Son commented that 
this was the normal accommodation for returnees' first night 
in Pleiku.  End Note.)  The following morning (September 
10), the authorities from Duc Co and Chu Se Districts 
arrived and took the returnees home (three returnees in each 
district).  Son said there were no problems at all with the 
return and that "everything was very good." 
 
2. (SBU) Son further stated that he visited three of the 
returnees on September 12 and the remaining three on 
September 13 (this despite torrential rains).  The returnees 
and their families appeared to be very happy and in good 
condition, and their overall mood was much better than that 
of previous returnees, Son observed.  The "leader" of the 
refuseniks seemed to be working with all of their families 
to ensure their welfare and well-being.  Furthermore, the 
six did not request UNHCR to conduct a monitoring visit at a 
later date.  Finally, Son stated that his team visited 
various local authorities in and around Pleiku (NFI) who 
assured him of their commitment to treat the returnees just 
like any other citizens.  One unnamed official reportedly 
said, "Although it was their mistake to leave, they should 
not be treated like criminals." 
 
3. (SBU) Comment:  We are pleased to hear that the return 
went as planned and that UNHCR was satisfied by the 
condition of the six returnees.  However, we will continue 
to work with the GVN on continued monitoring of all 
returnees in the Central Highlands, including the six. 
Mission Vietnam hopes to schedule a return visit to the 
region in the near future and will attempt to meet with the 
`refusenik' six at that time.  End Comment. 
 
MARINE