Cambodian prime minister lashes out at UN refugee body

The Nation
February 29, 2008

Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out angrily at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Thursday, claiming it granted asylum to refugees without government permission.

"Now I think Cambodia belongs to UNHCR. It has given asylum to many from countries from abroad without (cooperation) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior," Hun Sen said in a speech broadcast nationally on state media.

"Pakistan, Afghanistan, Africa, Nigeria people now ask UNHCR to give political asylum. Why does UNHCR do this without informing the government?"

"Where is the Land of UNHCR? Why does it give Cambodian land ... without asking permission from the government?"

Police sources said people from Cameroon, Sudan and Algeria were also amongst at least 1,000 political refugees resettled in Cambodia, given identity cards and paid a monthly stipend by the UN agency for a limited period until they were on their feet.

"Some have caused the police many headaches. Some get involved in criminal activities, and we are always worried about terrorism if we don't know who they are. UNHCR turns them out into Cambodia like cows into a field," a police source said.

But a UNHCR spokesman in Phnom Penh said the agency was completely bewildered by the allegations as it had previously believed it had maintained very good relations with the government.

"We don't need to review our cooperation because we have excellent cooperation already. We were not aware of any problems," the spokesman said.

"We already share our information with the government. We have always worked well with the ministries concerned."