Cambodia To Allow Montagnards Refugee Status

(VOA) – Cambodia will ease restrictions preventing some Vietnamese refugees from gaining asylum in the kingdom. The decision means the Montagnards cannot be forced out of Cambodia against their will. The Cambodian government says it is softening its stance and will allow the United Nations to extend refugee status and protection to the Montagnards, a primarily Christian tribal group from Vietnam . The Montagnards fled to Cambodia after accusing the communist Vietnamese government of religious repression and land confiscation. Last April, Vietnamese security forces cracked down on a Montagnard political demonstration, killing several and forcing hundreds to flee. Under the new agreement, the United Nations can issue international identification cards and relocate the refugees to non-hostile third countries.