FM spokeswoman says no returnee from CPC will be punished
On Feb. 5th, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh answered question from Vietnam News Agency: Please provide Viet Nam's reaction to statements by some individuals that 'they are concerned over the Central Highlands ethnic minority people, who illegally crossed the border to Cambodia, upon their return to Viet Nam".
Answer:
Prompted by the policy of tolerance of the Party and State of Vietnam and the tradition of humanitarianism of the Vietnamese people, and in accordance with the Report signed between Vietnam, Cambodia and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) at the second Tripartite Meeting, held on 21 January 2002 on the Central Highlands ethnic minority people, who illegally crossed the border to Cambodia, the returnees, upon their return to Vietnam, will not be prosecuted, punished or discriminated for their past activities because they are the victims of deception by bad elements and hostile forces. The Government of Vietnam and local authorities will create all favorable conditions for these people to stabilize their life and reintegrate into the community.
