VZCZCXRO9948
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #0934 3520739
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 180739Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1469
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1707
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 000934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/CM, DRL, PRM 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2019 
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: (C) UIGHURS MOVE AGAIN; UPDATES ON SITUATION 
 
REF: PHNOM PENH 926 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Gregory F. Lawless for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1.  (C) Officials from UNHCR confirmed that the group of 20 
Uighurs relocated for a second time the evening of December 
17, to a single-family dwelling rented by UNHCR.  Cambodian 
police officers are assisting in providing security at the 
site; UNHCR said the officers have received explicit 
protection instructions by senior members of the police 
force.  UNHCR also confirmed that Jesuit Refugee Services has 
access to the new site and the applicants. 
 
¶2.  (C) The two Uighur adults who left the group on December 
15 have not returned; UNHCR stated they have no new 
information on the whereabouts of the two.  (NOTE:  Post will 
meet with a contact from Jesuit Refugee Services the evening 
of December 18 to solicit more information about the 
circumstances of departure by the 2 Uighurs, as well as 
details of personal histories of all members of the group. 
END NOTE.) 
 
¶3.  (C) UNHCR received a note verbale December 18 from the 
Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs stating that the Sub-Decree governing Cambodia's 
implementation of UN Refugee Convention was finalized and 
signed on December 17.  This Sub-Decree refers to joint 
UNHCR-RGC cooperation. 
 
¶4.  (C) The UNHCR's Mandarin interpreter arrived in Phnom 
Penh from Bangkok on December 16 and has been standing by to 
assist with the refugee status determination (RSD) interviews 
for the few Uighurs who speak Mandarin.  UNHCR is waiting for 
RGC instructions to begin the RSD process. 
LAWLESS