Fading Hopes: Struggles for Survival among Cambodians Repatriated from Thai Refugee Camps By Janet McLellan, PhD Research Associa te Centre for Refugee Studies York University York Lanes Press ©1996 Janet McLellan, Centre for Refugee Studies. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Pub lished by York Lanes Press, Inc. Suite 351, York Lanes York University North York ON M3J 1P3 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data McLellan, Janet, 1952­ Fading Hopes: struggles for survival among Cambodians repatriated from Thai refugee camps Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 1-55014-303-4 Cambodia THAILAND VIETNAM Dedication This report is dedicated to the people of Cambodia. May their suffering be eased and may their future have hope. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Howard Adelman and Michael Lanphier of the Centre For Refugee Studies, York University for their encouragement in initiating a study of Cambodian repatriation and for the provision offinancial support. I am grateful to the many people in Cambodia who granted inteniews and allowed their words to be included in this report. They are too numerous to name but include government officials, NGO personnel and local administrators, both Cambodians and non-Cambo­ dians. Their compassion towards Cambodian people, and their willingness to give of themselves, often to the point of exhaus tion, makes their workheroic. Many of the NGO people have been involved with Cambodian refugees since 1979 and their continuing commitment is both admirable and inspiring, as is the involvement of Cambodians who unceasingly struggle against enormous suffering and despair. Special thanks go to Linda Hartke, Country Director for Church World Service, who arranged the visit to Sre Ampil Village, and to Brian Heidel, Country Director for American Refugee Committee who provided convoy transportation to Pursat and arranged accommoda­ tion. Lam Vong, Community Development Worker at Canadian Cambodian Develop­ ment Program, was extremely helpful in organizing the Pursat survey team, notifying people of the project and allowing his house to be used as a daily meeting place. Appreciation goes to each member of the survey team -Lov Bunna, Chin Rina, Bouy Phal, ChukChanny, KeoChhorm, Khrm Dany, So Soh, Ros Sivay, Chea Buntaom, Boun Leeng-for their dedication and diligence in arduous conditions. I am especially grateful to Dala Chey, for her translation and general involvement in arranging meetings with the commune and village chiefs. Contents Acronyms .............................................................................. xi Introduction ........................................................................... xiii Part One 1. Cambodian Repatriation 3 2. Provision of Assistance for Returnees .......................................... 9 3. Pursat Province-General Overview ...................... .... ........... .. 21 4. Returnees and Land-Access, Availability, and Use ..................... 35 5. Reintegration-Continuance and Impediments ......................... 49 Part Two Survey Results ........................................................................ 69 Summary of Part One and Two ...................................................... 107 Bibliography ................................................................................. 113 Subject Index .............................................................................. 115 List of Tables T.b~l : Oemogr.phicProfileofRepondents ....................._.............. 71 Tab~2. TypesofChorft bySeJcofRespoodent ................................. n f'iguft I; y~., of Dq>artu~ ............................................ T.l T.b~ 3: Tr .\·~l CompmloNdn RighI from and Return 10Cambodi. .... 73 T.b~ "' : Re.uons RIoted as Important or Vel")' 1mportant for ......vingCambodia ......... _._ ...... _. ........................ i~ T.blt' S, Pro... in~ o f~in, before 1975 and PTO"inc:~ Rl!tumed To ... 75 Tab~ 6; l"tu.i R~fug~ Camp Respondent Stayed In l.oIIge5t _.............. 76 Tablt 7: Y~.rs Respondentu"ed in TN! Rl!fugee Camp ..................... 76 Tab ! ~ 8: Types of Training Rect ived In Thai Camps •....... ............... .... 77 T lbl~ 9; Sour«' of Most Information on Repatriation ........................... 78 T abl~ I O: Y~..Retumedto Cambodia ._....... .. ...•..... .........•.............•.••• 78 T abl~]1 ; Reuon for 5I:'lecte:l l:::Ie$tin.ltion .. ........... _........................ .•.. 79 Tablt' 12; P~I""IOI1(. ) St.o~ WIth on Ret\un 10 Cambodia ........................ 79 T.b~lJ ; Length ofSboy.-t first Loc.1tioo after Repotriation .................. 79 T. -blt' It; Number of Times Moved after Rep.triation ............. ... ... ... .... 80 Table IS: ReIJON for Maoing '-~r Return to Cambod.. ..................... 80 Table 16: Rl!uoru for W.nhng to Remain in ThaI Refup Camps .•.•..•.. 81 Table 17; St.nd. reI of linng and II\debtJtdness ..........•..... .•...... ... ••. 82 T.ble ]8; Respondent Types by Rating ofli'-ing SWtdMd$ .................. 82 T.ble 19: EmploymmlSlatus _.......... ............................................. S3 Table 20: Omcpation bela... 1975, in Thai Camps &. Currently ............... 84 Tab]e 2]; Monthly HOURhold Inn>me (In RIels) ..... ..........•.•............... 85 Table 22; Respondent TYJ>e5 by Adequacy of Income ........................•. 85 Table 23; Reuoru for 1n<;000000lnadequacy .............. _........................... 86 Table 2"'; ReallOnl for ~g Unemployed ........ .. ... L .. ._.................... 87 Table 2$: Problems Experienced after Reruming to Cambodia ........... 88 Table 26: Comparison of Life in Cambodia versus Life in Thai Camps...... 88 Table 28: Most Important form and Adequacy of Aid Received ............ 90 Table 29: Financial or Other Aid Received from Family or Relatives Overseas .....,................................... '" ... .. 90 Table 30: Relatives or Family from Thai Camps Live Nearby.................. 91 Table 31: Types of Relatives in the Area Prior to Arrival........................ 91 Table 32:' Number of Family Members Living near Respondent ............ 92 Table 33: Friends nearby Prior to Arrival and Continued Friendship after Repatriation ......................................................... 92 Table 34: Perception of Locals' Attitudes towards Returnees.................. 93 Table 35: Percentage Who Perceived a Warm Reception onReturn and Percent Age Who Experienced Resentment Regarding lJNHCR Support ... 93 Table 36: Whether Aid Helped in Resettlement and to Move Closer to Family ..................................................................... 94 Table 37: Frequency of Being Accused of Abandoning Cambodia, Unwillingness to Share Land and Villager Resentment over Jobs ... .. .. 94 Table 38: Memberships in Any Support Groups ................................. 95 Table 39: Items Shared with Non-Family Members ................. ............. 95 Table 40: Reasons for Feeling Accepted and for Feeling Unwelcome ...... 96 Table 41: Feelings of Whether Returnees Are Accepted ........................ 97 Table 42: Responsibility for People with Special Needs ........................ 98 Table 43: Respondent's Rating of Own Health and Children's Health ...... 99 Table 44: Times in Last Six Months that Healthcare Was Needed ............ 100 Table 45: Healthcare Person Seen Most ............................................. 100 Table 46: Whether Health Problems Interfere with Daily Activities ......... 101 Table 47: Ailments Diagnosed by a Doctor During Lifetime .................. 101 Table 48: Health Problems Experienced in the Last Year ........................ 102 Table 49: Health Problems Experienced in the Last Year by Sex ............ 102 Table 50: Adequacy of Healthcare Services ....................................... 103 Table 51: Feelings about Own Future and Children's Future .................. 103 Table 52: Negative and Positive Reasons for Respondent's Future ......... 104 Table 53: Negative and Positive Reasons for Their Child's Future ......... 105 I Acronyms ARC-American RefugftCommittf!l! CARE-Care InternotioNJ CARERE-Cambod.ian ~t and RantegrahO<l CCOP--Cambodian CanadII [)r.·elopment Program CONCERN-Concem Intemational/ EC crp-e..mbodian Peoples Party CRC-Cambodian Red Cross IRC- International RftI Cross EVI- Extnmely Vuloorl.bko Ind,v,duals IOP- lnh'!m.llly Displaced Person NCO-Non-Gc,,,,erTUroel\t.aI Orpniution Q IP--United Nations ~·e lop"..ent Prognm., Quick Impact Projecu UNOP-United Nations [)r.·elopmenl Program UNHCR- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNRI So-United Nations Research Institu~ for Social [)P·..dopmenl UNTAC-United Nations Transnational Authority in Cunbodia VCA-Vulnerable Indi"idua! , Introduction Since the late 1980s, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has viewed voluntary repatriation as the most desirable solution to a refugee situation. In conjunction with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), governments, various development organizations, and aid donors, UNHCR has pro­ moted international action to create conditions favourable for mass return movements and long-term development efforts. The ideal was that repatriated refugees (returnees) would receive immediate relief and assistance upon arrival in their country of origin to aid short-term resettlement. Returnees would then participate in longer-term social and economic development programs to ensure that viable livelihoods could be attained