Cablegate: Helpful Gvn Response to Montagnard Resettlement:

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

010814Z Apr 02

2002HANOI00762 - UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTO9085

PAGE 01 HANOI 00762 010847Z
ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00
NSAE-00 OIC-02 SSO-00 SS-00 TEST-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
------------------7D1E1A 010848Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6030
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY

UNCLAS HANOI 000762

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, PRM (PAM LEWIS), DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM VM CB ETMIN HUMANR
SUBJECT: HELPFUL GVN RESPONSE TO MONTAGNARD RESETTLEMENT:
"THEY CAN CHOOSE RESETTLEMENT OR REPATRIATION"

1. (U) ACCORDING TO THE MFA SPOKESPERSON AND A VIETNAM
NEWS AGENCY PRESS ARTICLE, MONTAGNARD "MIGRANTS" NOW IN
CAMBODIA CAN "CHOOSE" RESETTLEMENT IN A THIRD COUNTRY OR
UNCLASSIFIED

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REPATRIATION. IN HER MARCH 31 STATEMENT, THE MFA
SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT ANY "MIGRANTS" WHO WISH TO RESETTLE
IN A THIRD COUNTRY WOULD BE "ASSISTED WITH THE NECESSARY
FORMALITIES, FOLLOWING PREVIOUS PATTERNS OF COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE UNHCR, VIETNAM AND OTHER RELATED COUNTRIES."
THOSE WHO WANT TO REPATRIATE TO VIETNAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO
DO SO UNDER A "COOPERATIVE PROCEDURE" BETWEEN VIETNAM,
CAMBODIA, AND THE UNHCR.

2. (U) THE MFA STATEMENT AND THE PRESS REPORTS DID NOT
SPECIFICALLY MENTION US INVOLVEMENT. RATHER THE FOCUS WAS
ON THE GVN AND RCG AGREEING TO GIVE THE "ILLEGAL MIGRANTS" A
CHOICE AND THAT RESETTLEMENT OR REPATRIATION SHOULD BE DONE
ON A HUMANITARIAN BASIS AND NOT BE POLITICIZED "OR USED AS A
TOOL TO UNDERMINE THE INTERESTS AND SECURITY OF VIETNAM AND
CAMBODIA."

3. (U) THE STATEMENT NOTED THAT HARSH CONDITIONS IN THE
CAMPS RESULTED IN SOME PEOPLE REPATRIATING ON THEIR OWN.
THE STATEMENT ALSO REITERATED CRITICISM OF THE UNHCR FOR
WITHDRAWING "UNILATERALLY" FROM THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT.

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COMMENT
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4. (SBU) THE GVN REACTION IS HELPFUL AND SHOULD CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF A PROBLEM THAT HAS DAMAGED
VIETNAM'S RELATIONS WITH BOTH THE U.S. AND CAMBODIA. A FACE-
SAVING MOVE, IT APPEARS THAT THE GVN IS PUTTING THE BEST
LIGHT POSSIBLE ON A SITUATION WHERE ITS ABILITY TO AFFECT
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HANOI 00762 010847Z
THE OUTCOME TO ITS LIKING HAS BEEN OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS ON
THE GROUND.
BURGHARDT

UNCLASSIFIED

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