Limbo on Earth: An Investigative Report on the Current Living Conditions and Legal Status of Ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia

PRESS RELEASE 

For immediate release: 18 March 2014 

Minority Rights Organization launches fact-finding report - Barred from Citizenship, Ethnic Vietnamese in Kampong Chhnang Suffer Deprivation from Basic Human Rights

Today, the Minority Rights Organization (MIRO) presents its new report “Limbo on Earth: The Situation of Stateless Ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia. A Case Study from Kampong Chhnang”. The report reveals how ethnic Vietnamese, who have been living in Cambodia for several generations, hold no identification papers and are consequently deprived of their most fundamental human rights.

The importance of national identity is still not recognized effectively by the Government of Cambodia. This report illustrates the consequences for ethnic Vietnamese who are deprived citizenship in Cambodia. It highlights the poverty of their living conditions, their lack of access to education, the deplorable situations in the floating villages on the Tonle Sap River and their exclusion from economic, social and political life.

The lack of identification papers is the root cause of all other difficulties faced by stateless Vietnamese in Cambodia and due to this lack of identity they face widespread discrimination and exploitation. This has dire consequences on their access to healthcare, education, justice in court, social security, freedom of movement, transfer of assets, and housing.

Obtaining identification papers is the most crucial requirement for ethnic Vietnamese, following the procedure provided in the 1996 Law on Nationality. As the status of all those born after 1996 complies with the law, at least the young ethnic Vietnamese should be granted citizenship. It is of paramount importance to act upon these issues, as the problems will only exacerbate and intensify if not solved in the near future.

This is particularly important for the children who are subject to this discrimination. Children have an inherent and fundamental right to be registered. This is the only way they can enjoy other fundamental human rights, such as education.

As ethnic Vietnamese hold neither Cambodian nor Vietnamese identity cards, they must be considered as stateless. 

Please find attached the full report. 

Minority Rights Organization (MIRO)

For further information please contact: 

Mr. ANG Chanrith Tel. 012-934 802 

Mr. SOURN Butmao Tel. 011-919 979 

Ms. Judith KUNZE Tel. 017-875734

# 18D, St 568, Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia / E-mail: miro.cambodia@gmail.com