Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, April 3 (VNA) -- The U.S. offer of asylum to 24 Vietnamese who fled to Cambodia was an effort to interfere with Viet Nam's internal affairs, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said on April 3.

It was also intended to complicate relations between the countries involved, she said.

Ms. Thanh said:

" 24 Central Highlands, residents had fled illegally to Cambodia about March 19-22 and had been arrested by the Cambodian Government. They were not political refugees.

The Viet Nam Government had asked the Cambodian Government to return the 24 residents immediately so as to prevent more illegal cross-border entrances into Cambodia in search of third-country asylum. The request complied with agreements between Viet Nam and Cambodia governing entry and exit visas and cooperation to safeguard the border in the interest of the two peoples.

Viet Nam would certainly not punish the 24, but was willing to help them re-unite with the community in accordance with its lenient and humanitarian policy.

The U.S. had announced the offer of asylum at a time when the Viet Nam and Cambodia Governments were in the process of settling the problem.

Therefore, the U.S. offer revealed an effort to take advantage of the incident and interfere with Viet Nam's internal affairs.

The U.S. had caused difficulties in settling the problem and had complicated relations between Viet Nam and the United States; between Viet Nam and Cambodia and between Cambodia and the U.S. It had also encouraged illegal cross-border activities, thus distabilising the region. The Foreign Ministry strongly demanded an immediate end to the US interference" .--VNA