UNHCR Finds 15 More Montagnards

By Daniel Ten Kate

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees took 15 Montagnard asylum-seekers hiding in Rata-nakkiri province into its protection Wednesday. The 10 men and five women were hiding in O'Yadaw district's Pok Touch village, said Chung Ravuth, UNHCR field officer. In the past two days, 48 Montagnards have emerged from the province's jungles, bringing the total number of Montagnards to enter UNHCR protection since July to 335. The UNHCR plans to search for other groups of Montagnards reported to be hiding in Andong Meas and Lumphat districts. Cooperation with government authorities thus far has been "perfect," Chung Ravuth said.