Cambodia: Repatriation from Thailand in final stages

Briefing notes

Cambodia: Repatriation from Thailand in final stages

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

12 February 1999

The repatriation of former groups of Khmer Rouge sympathisers from Thailand to Cambodia is in its final stage. Today, 680 persons (195 families) left Chong Khao Phlu camp in Trat Province to repatriate to the area of Samlot in Cambodia.

Repatriation packages are distributed at the arrival point in O'TaTeak in the Samlot area with the assistance of the Cambodian Red Cross.

A total of 16,126 Cambodians have repatriated voluntarily from Thailand to Cambodia with UNHCR assistance since January of this year.

The Phu Noi Camp in the Surin province was emptied of its whole population (15,000 people) last week and Way Cherng in the same province is emptying out now..

The Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has been de-mining areas to which refugees wish to go back, but the demining will take a long time. Despite bing advised to postpone their return until the area is completely demined, residents of Chong Khao Phlu camp decided to return now in order to be able to prepare their fields for the rice planting season.