Cambodian Displaced Persons at the Thai Border
In view of the fast changing political circumstances in the
region, including significant movement towards a political
settlement of the Cambodian conflict, it is important to note
that the future of some 300,000 Cambodians living on the border
between Thailand and Cambodia is not on the agenda of the
international conference. Not recognized as refugees by Thailand
or the United Nations, this population resides in camps
administered by factions of the Cambodian resistance, including
the Khmer Rouge. In their special status as "displaced persons"
technically speaking, the population under the control of the
United Nations recognized Coalition Government of Democratic
Kampuchea (CGDK) the Cambodians at the border are regarded by
the upcoming conference as a separate concern, to be resolved
within the larger context of a political settlement of the
Cambodian conflict.
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The protection of the displaced Cambodians has been a
perennial problem, with all of the camps being subject to
military attacks and banditry. During the past year, the Thai
authorities have made an admirable effort to address protection
problems in the camps controlled by the non-communist CGDK
factions, through the creation of a specially trained "Displaced
Person Protection Unit" (DPPU). However, the DPPU is still
limited in its ability to control internal camp violence.
More seriously, it should be emphasized that as long as the
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