CAMBODIA: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AWAIT REPATRIATION.

Record ID: 274939

  • Title: CAMBODIA: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AWAIT REPATRIATION.
  • Date: 23rd April 1970
  • Summary: 1. MV REFUGEES OUTSIDE HUT 0.05 2. MV DITTO 0.08 3. MV REFUGEES PAN DOWN TO CHILD 0.21 4. MV DITTO LISTENING TO SPOKESMAN AND POLICE STANDING BY (2 SHOTS) 0.32 5. CU POLICEMAN TALKING AND OTHER MAN TALKING 0.38 6. MV VILLAGERS SITTING PAN TO LUGGAGE 0.43 7. MV VILLAGERS POLICEMAN IN FOREGROUND 0.49 Initials AJC/VS/CT
  • Embargoed: 8th May 1970 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Reuters ID: LVAB63X6FTQRZKFI95DXYJ1VMURP
  • Story Text: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN ARE STANDING BY IN CAMBODIA, AWAITING TRAVEL ORDERS FOR REPATRIATION TO SOUTH VIETNAM. YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) SCORES OF PEOPLE TURNED UP AT CHECKPOINTS IN PHNOM PENH, RESPONDING TO AN OFFER BY THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT TO REPATRIATE VIETNAMESE.

    ON CHECK-IN POST WAS THE CAO DAI TEMPLE WHERE THE NAMES OF MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE WERE REGISTERED FOR TRAVEL TO SOUTH VIETNAM. THEY WERE TOLD TO GO HOME, PACK THEIR BELONGINGS AND AWAIT TRAVEL ORDERS. AN ARMY OFFICER SAID HE BELIEVED THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WAS SENDING A PLANE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

    THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 600,000 VIETNAMESE RESIDENTS IN CAMBODIA. MANY OF THEM FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES, CONCERNED AT REPORTS OF MASSACRES BY CAMBODIAN TROOPS TRYING TO DRIVE VIET CONG TROOPS OFF CAMBODIAN SOIL. THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT HOWEVER HAS DENIED THERE IS ANY POLICY OF PERSECUTING THE VIETNAMESE.

    ONE OF THOSE WHO REGISTERED AT THE CAO DAI TEMPLE WAS A 26 YEAR OLD GARAGE OWNER, A SECOND GENERATION CAMBODIAN. WHEN ASKED WHY HE WANTED TO LEAVE HE REPLIED THAT IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO REMAIN IN CAMBODIA, THE VIETNAMESE WERE NOT ALLOWED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register