Cablegate: (C) Ambassador Meets Unhcr to Discuss Uighurs

VZCZCXRO5252
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #0913 3481053
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141053Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1448
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2584

C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 000913

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, PRM
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2019
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV PHUM CB
SUBJECT: (C) AMBASSADOR MEETS UNHCR TO DISCUSS UIGHURS

Classified By: DCM THEODORE ALLEGRA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)

1. (C) SUMMARY: During a meeting December 14 with
Ambassador Rodley, United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) officials recounted a "very positive"
discussion with Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) officials
regarding the 22 Uighur asylum-seekers in Cambodia.
According to UNHCR, the RGC reaffirmed its commitment to the
Refugee Convention principles and requested UNHCR's
assistance in providing interpretation and protection for the
Uighurs. The UNHCR officials opined that it would be several
weeks before the cases would all be adjudicated, during which
time more secure protection would be provided. END SUMMARY.

2. (C) Ambassador met December 14 with UNHCR officials
Deputy Regional Representative from Thailand Giuseppe de
Vincentis and Senior Protection Officer in Phnom Penh
Toshitsuki Kawauchi. De Vincentis related the results of his
meeting with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of
Interior Sar Kheng earlier the same morning, and
characterized the meeting as very positive. The RGC
reaffirmed at the outset its commitment to abide by the
Refugee Convention principles and confirmed its interest in
continuing with the joint refugee status determination
process, which has been the standard procedure in asylum
cases since late 2008.

3. (C) De Vincentis informed the Ambassador that the RGC
requested UNHCR assistance in two areas: interpretation and
protection. The RGC specifically requested interpreters to
assist with status determination interviews. On that, De
Vincentis said he told the DPM that a Mandarin-speaking
interpreter from Bangkok has been assigned to assist with the
four or five cases where the asylum-seekers speak Mandarin,
and that interpreter was expected to arrive in Phnom Penh on
December 15. For the remaining asylum-seekers who do not
speak Mandarin, a likely Uighur interpreter from Kazakhstan
has been identified, and UNHCR is working to bring that
interpreter to Phnom Penh within a few days.

4. (C) On providing protection and security, De Vincentis
said that he and Sar Kheng agreed to relocate the Uighurs
from their current unsecured locations to a single site with
improved security. De Vincentis said that UNHCR officers are
now working to locate an acceptable site, with a view toward
moving the group on December 15 or 16. The Ambassador
welcomed this news, but stressed the importance of having
UNHCR protection officers or, at the very least, a protection
advocate from Jesuit Refugee Services, at the site to protect
against unofficial contact by unauthorized agents.

5. (C) De Vincentis said that Sar Kheng also emphasized his
desire to expedite these cases. Although UNHCR would
expedite cases, where possible, De Vincentis noted that UNHCR
could not act too precipitously, stating that every case
should receive careful attention and consideration. The
Ambassador urged immediate action on the Uighur cases,
however, given the large official Chinese presence in
Cambodia, the strong ties between the RGC and Government of
China, and the wide latitude for operation of Chinese agents
in Cambodia. In response to Ambassador's question, De
Vincentis said Sar Kheng did not directly raise the issue of
official intervention from China, but made reference to the
RGC's "difficult position due to pressure from outside
forces." The Ambassador emphasized that the continued public
silence by China could actually increase the likelihood of
risk to the group.

6. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's question about the
duration of the refugee status determination process, De
Vincentis emphasized that the Uighur cases may take longer
than usual due to interpretation issues or other complicating
factors. All that said, he said he estimated that these
cases could be resolved "within 2 or 3 weeks." De Vincentis
confirmed that UNHCR Geneva and Washington were equally
focused on the situation, and said UNHCR would not hesitate
to inform the Embassy if they encountered a need for
assistance.
RODLEY

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