UNITED NATIONS, EUROPEAN UNION AND UNITED STATES STAND IDLY AND PASSIVELY BY AS THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT MURDERS INDIGENOUS DEGAR PEOPLE

6th May 2008, 04:37 pm

The Vietnamese security police murdered a Degar Christian by putting a rope around his neck, tying it to their jeep and dragging him around until he died.

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On April 28, 2008 the Vietnamese security police used a Degar policeman, Y-Blen Nie, to entrap another Degar. They asked Y-Blen Nie to invite his friend, Y-Ben Hdok, to drink coffee with him at a restaurant close to the police station.  When our Christian brother, Y-Ben Hdok, arrived at a restaurant, eight Vietnamese security police including Y-Blen Nie attacked him, handcuffed him and took him to a quiet and secluded place where they began to beat him. They struck him repeatedly with their police batons and also kicked, punched, and stomped on him until he fell down to the ground unconscious.  They broke the bones in both his upper and lower legs and also his upper and lower arms. Then, these brutal police officers placed a rope around his neck and then tied it to their jeep and dragged him around until he died.  After that, they took his corpse to the hospital and called his family, claiming that Y-Ben Hdok had killed himself. 

His parents and his wife asked the chief police from Daklak province “how could a person break all the bones in his own legs, arms, ribs and then break out all of his own teeth, and crack his skull on both the front and back sides, and then scratch and burn his skin and tear up his own clothes like he had been dragged through the ground in addition to the rope burns around his neck? How can a man kill himself in this way?” The face of the Vietnamese police chief became red and he was furious because he had no answer.  The marks on his body were clearly visible to his wife and parents when they cleaned his body before the burial.  The family also asked the Degar police who was involved in the killing and they were told that the Vietnamese police had put a rope around Y-Ben Hdok’s neck and tied it to their jeep while he was still alive and then dragged him around until he died.  The brutality and hatred of the Vietnamese government is beyond measure.

When the corpse was brought home, the security police arrived to stop the family from taking pictures or producing any evidence. They also prevented relatives and friends from entering the house and viewing the body. Even worse, they tried to stop the family and relatives from crying and mourning and they threatened the family, ordering them not to tell anyone, not even relatives in the US about Y-Ben Hdok’s death.  On the day of the burial, on May 4, 2008, there were around 200 security police who escorted the family to the burial grounds where numerous other security police were also stationed to prevent foreigners from interviewing the family and to prevent villagers from conducting any peaceful demonstrations.

Y-Ben Hdok was born in 1979 in the village of Buon Dung, commune of Cu Ebur, town of Buonmethuot in the province of Daklak.

The Vietnamese security police who were involved in the killing were:

1 - Doan Van Tri, Vietnamese

2 - Bui Quang Thuan, Vietnamese

3 - Pham Duc Can, Vietnamese

4 - Pham Thi Ky, Vietnamese

5 - Y-Rina Mlo, Degar

6 - Y-To Nie, Degar

7 - Y-Blenh Nie, Degar

8 - Y-Lil, Degar

On behalf of the family and relatives of the dead, the Montagnard Foundation urges the International community, especially the UN Human Rights Council, the European Union and the United States set up a delegation to investigate this situation and to make sure that these Vietnamese police officers be brought to justice.

Two Degar children were murdered by 4 Vietnamese villagers and 4 Vietnamese security police from the village of Thon Hai Hung.

On April 15, 2008, while their parents were working on their farm, Y-Thiep Mlo (9 years old) and Y-Bui Nie (8 years old) went to fish on the bank of the Kdrol River which is beside their farm.  4 Vietnamese civilians and 4 Vietnamese security police from the Vietnamese village of Thon Hai Hung were walking along the bank of Kdrol River at this time and saw that the two Degar Children were fishing along the river bank alone.  Without any reason other than sheer racism, these grown men attacked the Degar children, beat them up, drowned them and then placed large rocks on their chest to keep their corpses submerged.  In the evening, when the parents of both children could not find them, they went to the nearby Vietnamese village of Thon Hai Hung and asked the Vietnamese villagers if they had seen their children.  One of the Vietnamese villagers told them that “your children are dead, come with me and I will show you where they died.”  The Vietnamese villager led them to the river bank.  The fathers jumped into the water and found their children on the bottom of the river with large rocks placed upon their chest.  The parents remembered that the 4 Vietnamese civilians and 4 Vietnamese security police had passed by their farm earlier but did not think that these people would actually murder their children.

The parents took their children’s corpses back to their village and buried them on April 18, 2008.  The parents did not report the murder to the police because the Vietnamese government has a history of accusing any Degar who comes to them for help of being separatists and wanting to overthrow the Vietnamese government. Degar victims are commonly sent to prison, tortured and killed whenever they dare to report a crime committed by a Vietnamese person.

In our last press release on 29 April 2008, we listed over 100 children from 2 years old to 12 years old who were sprayed with teargas in their eyes and beaten by the Vietnamese soldiers, police and civilians. We also reported that a 90 year old Degar woman had been sprayed in the eyes with tear gas and then beaten. Today we bring to your attention the brutal murder of a Degar Christian and two 8 and 9 year old boys, who were beaten and drowned.  Vietnam claims that these individuals are criminals, separatists, FULRO forces who want independence and militants who want to overthrow the Vietnamese government. How could any sane person believe this? Yet, most of the civilized governments in the world seem to accept what Vietnam tells them at face value. Was the two year old who was beaten and thrown down an embankment a criminal? What crime did the 90 year old woman commit? Were the two boys who were fishing separatists? Let the world decides if these Degars are victims or separatists.

Degar villagers in the Central Highlands have reported to the Montagnard Foundation, Inc that the Vietnamese security police told them that “the United States government and people are now on our side, to whom are you going to depend on now? Who will protect you? We are going to destroy you all.”  This statement came directly out of the mouth of Vietnamese officials and has really made the Degar people fearful and discouraged. 

And, it also really disappoints the Degar people, if this statement is true, because during the war, our people trusted and believed in the promises of the government of the United States and became very close friends with American soldiers. Many thousands of our people even died to protect Americans.   But now that the Vietnamese government and people have become friends and allies to the United States, the Degar people wonder where that leaves them. The Degar people do have hope that the US government will help the two peoples to live together in peace as one people and one nation. 

But, if the US government goes along with the Vietnamese government’s plan to exterminate our people, then, we can do nothing to protect ourselves. We can only pray that our Almighty God will help us to accept this fate and strengthen us to endure the agony of death.  As the Bible says in the book of 1Peter 4:12-13, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

Yes, we the Degar people are disappointed, but we are not angry or upset because we believe that these trials may be a lesson from God, who is teaching us not to put our trust in mankind, but instead to believe in Him, the Almighty God. Therefore, we have to comfort ourselves with the Words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He said in the book of John 14:3-4 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” And since death is the only way to enter the kingdom of God maybe this is the time that He wants the Degar people to return to Him so that we will not suffer the brutality of the Vietnamese government anymore.

As we all know, it is very hard for two different societies to live together in harmony.  But now, the Vietnamese government has armed its civilians with homemade weapons and the authority to attack and even kill our people.  Because of this grim partnership, Degar people including children and the elderly are being tortured and murdered at an ever increasing rate. If the world, especially the UN, EU and the United States, do not protect our people, our Degar race will eventually be exterminated completely by the evil the Vietnamese communists and the world will lose one of the finest races of mankind on this planet earth.

 

Category: Special Report  |  Comment

REPORT OF THE DEGAR PEOPLE’S NON VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION IN THE CENTRAL

29th April 2008, 09:12 pm

REPORT OF THE DEGAR PEOPLE’S NON VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM ON APRIL 11, 2008: PART II

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The persecution continues

On April 13, 2008, at around 10:00am in the morning, approximately 97 Degar Catholic believers from 4 villages, Ploi Mor So, Ploi Mor Hle, Ploi Ia Om and Ploi Hde, gathered in front of the office of the people’s committee at the commune of Dak Tower in the district of Cu Pah Gialai province, where they attempted to conduct a peaceful and non violent demonstration demanding the release of three Degar Christians, Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don, who were arrested at the village of Ploi Bang on April 11, 2008. They also asked for their farmlands, which the Vietnamese government had recently confiscated to be returned to them so that they would be able to raise food for their children and families. One of the government officials from the district of Cu Pah, named Hrip, came and told the protesters that they should go back home and that the delegation of the government would come and discuss the problem at their village the next day. Shortly after Hrip departed, the military arrived with 3 KAMA trucks (army trucks), 5 jeeps full of soldiers, riot police equipped with tear gas weapons, AK rifles, protective shields, helmets, and other Vietnamese civilians who carried handmade 2×4 boards with nails protruding from them, wooden sticks and electrical batons. After the soldiers had formed positions, the security police leader stepped up and asked the Degar protesters a single question. The dialogue is recorded below.

Police leader question: Why do you come here?

Protesters answered: We come here to request the release of our three Christian brothers and sister, Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don, who were arrested on April 11, 2008 at their village of Ploi Bang. And, we also want you to return our farmlands that the government recently confiscated for some kind of new construction project.

Police leader responded: You all can go home and tomorrow the government delegation will go to your village to talk with you about returning your farmlands.

The Degar protesters believed that the words of the Vietnamese police leader and the official were true so they went back to their villages, arriving at around 1:00pm that day.

On April 14, 2008 at around 8:00am in the morning, they gathered all of their Catholic brothers and sisters that comprised approximately 450 adults from the 4 villages mentioned above as well as over 100 of their children had come to the village of Ploi Mor So with them to have an early morning prayer before the Vietnamese delegation arrived.

They started the prayer meeting at around 8:00am and were located in the middle of the village of Ploi Mor So. They finished at around 9:30am. By this time, the villagers had been informed by a reliable contact that there were over a thousand Vietnamese soldiers, security police, riot police and Vietnamese civilians armed and headed to the village and all of the Vietnamese civilians wore protected helmets, but civilian clothes and carried homemade weapons. The fact that Vietnam allowed Vietnamese civilians to participate in this brutal attack should provide conclusive evidence that their agenda towards our people is not one of peace. The government only encourages and perpetuates racism towards our people, making the extermination of our race even easier. The cruel beatings inflicted upon the Degar villagers this day (women and children included) were received at the hands of Vietnamese civilians as well as soldiers and police. They arrived in the village carrying rifles, shields, electrical batons, handmade armaments such as 2×4’s with protruding nails, tear gas guns, iron sticks and other misc. weapons. There were so many of these soldiers, police and Vietnamese civilians, that the village was entirely filled and the Degar Christians and their children were completely surrounded. Two of the security police were carrying video cameras in order to record the conversation between the police and the Degar Christians. The conversation that took place is recorded below.

The security police asked the Degar Christians: What do you want?

The Degar Christians responded:

  1. We want the government to release the three of our Christian brothers and sister, Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don, whom you arrested on April 11, 2008.
  2. We want the government to release all of our 350 + Christian brothers and sisters who have been unjustly imprisoned since 2001.
  3. We want the government to respect our human rights
  4. We want the government to respect our indigenous rights
  5. We want the government to give back our farmlands which are currently being bulldozed.

After our Christian brothers and sisters finished their request, the security police were silent. They didn’t say a word. Instead, they shot tear gas into the Degar crowd. The villagers were in the center of the village and were surrounded on all sides by the Vietnamese so when our brothers, sisters and their children ran out of the gas cloud and towards the soldiers (because there was nowhere else to go), the soldiers, police and Vietnamese civilian helpers began to mercilessly beat them with whatever weapon they had on hand. The Vietnamese soldiers, security police and civilians beat our Degar brothers and sisters (adults and children alike) with sticks, shields, electric shock batons and various other weapons. They kicked, punched, and beat our people like animals, even the small children. When their victims fell unconscious, the Vietnamese would handcuff them and throw them on the back of their trucks and take them to prison. The parents did not know where their children were and the children did not know where their parents were. Everyone was screaming and crying and running for their lives, but because of all the tear gas, they could hardly see where they were going. Anyone who could see had more tear gas sprayed directly into their eyes by the security police.

Twenty seven (27) Degar people were taken to prison. They include: our brother San, who was born in 1984, Byang, who was born in 1989, We, who was born in 1955, Yol, whose date of birth is unknown, Nho, who was born in 1964, Long, who was born in 1992, Hmeo, who was born in 1989, Leoh, who was born in 1982, Hoa, who was born in 1986, Hen, who was born in 1989, Man, who was born in 1989, Piong, who was born in 1959, Loh, who was born in 1991, Mek, who was born in 1993, Winh, who was born in 1979, Poi, who was born in 1959, Khuok, who was born in 1989, Tem, who was born in 1983, Ngeo, who was born in 1989, Yai, who was born in 1987, Thang, who, was born in 1989, Pup, who was born in 1992, Lu, who was born in 1964, Pum, who was born in 1989, Lot, who was born in 1972, Hnhan, who was born in 1982, and Kong, who was born in 1981.
Almost all of protesters were severely beaten but only 8 suffered serious injuries. Their names are: Djenh, who was born in 1989, Lok, who was born in 1978, Lang, who was born in 1983, Bloih, who was born in 1967, Sut, who was born in 1965, Anhiuh, who was born in 1982, Hmec who was born in 1960, and Yai, whose date of birth is unknown.

Three year-old toddler severely beaten, gassed, shocked and thrown down an embankment

During the assault by the Vietnamese soldiers and police, our brother Anhiuh was able to pull and carry his three year old child to the outskirts of the village, but the Vietnamese security police who were surrounding the village and waiting for them sprayed him with teargas in his eyes, shocked him with an electrical baton, and then beat and kicked him until he fell down to the ground and passed out completely - all this in front of his crying child. Then, the merciless security police did the same thing to his child, Glil, who was born in 2005 and only three years old. They sprayed his eyes with teargas, shocked him with an electrical baton, beat him with a stick and then threw him down into the bank of a stream which was about 15 meter below according to our reliable eye-witness. We do not know if the child will survive.

92 year-old woman, severely beaten, gassed, and shocked

Our brother, Bronh, was able to run into the jungle so the security police could not after him but instead went to his house and asked his son, Kron, who was born in 2001. Kron was so scared that he could not respond to the questions of the security officer. He just cried. This evil security police sprayed the child’s eyes with teargas, shocked him with an electric baton, and then beat him with a stick until he fell to the floor. Then, the security police started to beat up and destroy everything in the house. Bronh’s mother in-law, who was 92 years old tried to stop the security police by saying “why do you guys beat up things in the house that cannot speak? If you want to beat something, beat me.” So, the security police turned around and sprayed teargas on her eyes, shocked her with their electrical baton, and then beat her until she fell down on the floor. Currently she is unable to even feed herself or get out of bed and her condition is critical. These depraved Vietnamese officers torture children and the elderly alike - they have no mercy and they doing this not because Degar people had committed crimes but because of their racism and hatred of their hearts.

A list of children harmed in the brutal attack

The following is a list of over100 children from 2 year old and up who were sprayed with teargas by the Vietnamese soldiers, police and civilians: H’Mot Mot,(girl) who was born in 2007, Minh, (boy) who was born in 2007, H’Ho Nak, (girl) who was born in 2007, Nap, (boy) who was born in 2007, H’Trach,(girl) who was born in 2007, H’Trim,(girl) who was born in 2007, H’Doi, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Lisa, (girl) who was born in 2006, Rit, (boy) who was born in 2006, H’Wai Weng, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Khim, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Ho Nai, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Suin, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Nga, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Lom, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Sura, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Nhoih, (girl) who was born in 2006, H’Sao, (girl) who was born in 2005, Glil, (boy) who was born in 2005, Khot, (boy) who was born in 2005, Sai, (boy) who was born in 2005, Lai, (boy) who was born in 2004, H’Ngin, (girl) who was born in 2004, H’Lien, (girl) who was born in 2004, H’Hien, (girl) who was born in 2004, Ngi, (boy) who was born in 2004, H’Sui, (girl) who was born in 2004, H’Silin, (girl) was born in 2004, Pak Ke, (boy) was born in 2004, Dam Bom, (boy) was born in 2004, H’Bli, (girl) who was born in 2004, H’Trom, (girl) who was born in 2004, H’Kim, (girl) who was born in 2004, Song, (boy) who was born in 2004, Blol, (boy) who was born in 2004, H’Nom, (girl) who was born in 2003, Wuon, (boy) was born in 2003, H’Pe, (girl) was born in 2003, Kik, (boy) who was born in 2003, Kinh, (boy) who was born in 2003, Wu, (boy) who was born in 2003, H’Su, (girl) who was born in 2003, H’Jem, (girl) who was born in 2002, Nhiu, (boy) who was born in 2002, Soai, (boy) who was born in 2002, H’Khui, (girl) who was born in 2002, H’Thom, (girl) who was born in 2002, H’Son, (girl) who was born in 2002, Wiet, (boy) who was born in 2002, Ket, (boy) who was born in 2002, H’Blanh, (girl) who was born in 2002, H’Si, (girl) who was born in 2002, H’Sou, (girl) who was born in 2002, H’Nik, (girl) who was born in 2002, H’Hin, (girl) who was born in 2001, H’Hyin, (girl) who was born in 2001, Ngou, (boy) who was born in 2001, H’Mila, (girl) who was born in 2001, Kuai, (boy) who was born in 2001, H’Sun, (girl) who was born in 2001, H’Kron, (girl) who was born in 2001, H’Ma Nhu, (girl) who was born in 2001, Hlol, (boy) who was born in 2001, H’Nung, (girl) who was born in 2001, Ki, (boy) who was born in 2001, H’Sach, (girl) who was born in 2001, H’Ran, (girl) who was born in 2001, Thon, (boy) who was born in 2000, H’Loai, (girl) who was born in 2000, H’Kom, (girl) who was born in 2000, Ko, (boy) who was born in 2000, Ki, (boy) who was born in 2000, H’Na, (girl) who was born in 2000, Hwun, (boy) who was born in 1999, H’Yuen, (girl) who was born in 1999, Tuin, (boy) who was born in 1999, Pel, (boy) who was born in 1999, H’Bai, (girl) who was born in 1999, Wih, (boy) who was born in 1999, Wang, (boy) who was born in 1999, Wen, (boy) who was born in 1999, H’Chi, (girl) who was born in 1999, Blo, (boy) who was born in 1999, H’Haih, (girl) who was born in 1999, Lich, (boy) who was born in 1999, H’Sin, (girl) who was born in 1999, H’Sanh, (girl) who was born in 1999, Han, (boy) who was born in 1999, Wo, (boy) who was born in 1999, Lih, (boy) who was born in 1998, H’Huan, (girl) who was born in 1998, H’Lum, (girl) who was born in 1998, Byip, (boy) who was born in 1998, H’Yim, (girl) who was born in 1998, Truk, (boy) who was born in 1998, H’Muk, (girl) who was born in 1997, Luih, (boy) who was born in 1997, H’Uk, (girl) who was born in 1997, Loch, (boy) who was born in 1997, Wik, (boy) who was born in 1996, Kiuh, (boy) who was born in 1996, H’Nao, (girl) who was born in 1996, Hwuk, (boy) who was born in 1996, H’Ben, (girl) who was born in 1996, Le, (boy) who was born in 1996, H’Huih, (girl) who was born in 1996, H’Joi, (girl) who was born in 1990, and H’Dai Si (DOB unknown).

Nine year-old boy sprayed with teargas directly into his eyes

Wo, who was born in 1999 and is nine years old, after he was sprayed with teargas in his eyes by the security police, he panicked and ran wild everywhere. He could not see anything and because of the pain of being beaten by the Vietnamese he ran into a barbed wire and got cut all over his body. This is not only one whom was hurt by the brutal and violently attack of the Vietnamese soldiers, police and civilians but because it is only one story that we could get out.

Six year-old and eight year-old sisters blinded by teargas got lost in the Jungle

After two sisters, H’Na (age 8) and H’Nik (age 6), were attacked with teargas by the Vietnamese soldiers, riot police and civilians, they started screaming and crying because of the pain and were near senseless from the beatings. They couldn’t see because they were blinded by teargas and they couldn’t find their parents and their parents could not find them either. The children wandered aimlessly out of the village into a vast wooden area. They still could not see anything and they did not know where they were going or where they wanted to go. They just walked and walked and until they fell asleep alone in the forest. Their mother looked for them everywhere, but could not find them. In the confusion of the beatings and gas and villagers being carried to prison and crippled or rendered unconscious many families were separated. The father of these two girls was also missing. The mother continued her search and found the girls on the next day, April 15 their mother looked for them again and she finally found her two daughters near the village of Ia Om. Although she rejoiced to find the girls alive, their father was still missing and now they wonder how they will survive without him. They do not know if he is lying dead in the forest, or if he was imprisoned by the Vietnamese or if he is hiding in the forest worrying about his family.

At this time, 23 of our Christian brothers ran into hiding inside the jungle and have not returned home for fear of being harmed by the Vietnamese.

These are not only ones who are hiding in the jungle though. Many others have also fled their villages, but where can they go? Their villages have been surrounded, the borders have been sealed with two divisions of Vietnamese armed forces that were sent to the Central Highlands and waiting to capture and kill any Degar who tries to escape. In addition, Cambodian soldiers and police are on the other side waiting to arrest and sell all those who were lucky enough to pass through the security line of Vietnamese soldiers back to Vietnam. Even if the Degar refugees somehow manage to reach the UNHCR, it will essentially do no good. The UNHCR will betray them, calling it “forced repatriation” which really just means giving the refugees back into the hands of the very murderers they are running from. The UNHCR, UN, US, EU and the rest of the world will not dare to interfere because of their business interests with Vietnam. NOW WHOM CAN OUR INDIGENOUS DEGAR PEOPLE DEPEND ON? NO ONE, EXCEPT OUR ALMIGHTY GOD and we pray that our God will give us strength to overcome the agony of death.

We just want to thank our Almighty God for all the suffering we have endured because it only makes us stronger in our faith. Throughout the history of mankind, God has chosen those he loves most to suffer most. We believe that God will reward us for our meek suffering when we are before HIS throne. This is why we can live without hatred of the Vietnamese. Just like Paul said: “when I am weak, then I am strong”. The stronger faith we have, the closer we will be with our God and the better chance we have to be with our Lord God when we leave this world. We also want to thank the government of Vietnam and all governments in the world who support and strengthen Vietnam to harm our indigenous Degar people because their actions (or inactions) really brings our people to their knees before our Lord God of the Universe for the forgiveness of their sins so that God will receive them into His own. In this world there is no hope for our people for the bible said in the book Ecclesiastes 7:2 “for death is the destiny of every man”.

This does not mean we have resigned ourselves to this current fate. We will continue to struggle for our rights to live as human being in a world that God has given equally to all mankind. We will also continue to bring the world’s attention to these atrocities by faithfully and factually reporting these incidents when they occur.

Biased treatment under the Vietnamese government

We the Degar people would also like to report the gross difference between how the Vietnamese government responds to Degar protesters and Vietnamese protesters. For instance, a recent protest by Vietnamese civilians and farmers over the confiscation of church land in Hanoi and farm land in the city of Ho Chi Minh was not met with the same brutality and hostility as was the Degar protesters. None of the Vietnamese protesters were physically harmed. This kind of action really demonstrated the racist prejudices that the Vietnamese government fosters towards the Degar people which threatens and violates their human rights as citizens of Vietnam. Therefore, we ask that our people be treated as equal citizens under the law. In addition, we ask the Vietnamese government to encourage good relations with our people and not foster racism and hate by including Vietnamese civilians in the organized persecution of our people.

Vietnam said that its government respects the human rights and religious freedom of our people and claimed that if anyone were punished, it was not because of their religious beliefs, but because of their crimes. What crimes were committed by these children who were as young as 2 years old? If the Vietnamese were not motivated by an unreasonable hate for our people, then how could they bear to torture innocent children? What crime could possibly be cruelest than those inflicted against children? Isn’t it obvious that their evil actions against the Degar people come from the hatred in their heart? It seems obvious that they are exercising a policy of genocide against our people.

If the torture of toddlers and small children does not elicit the outrage of the world community, then the world is lost. Now is the time for the UN and international community to step up and defend our children. It is one thing to allow our adults to be brutally tortured, imprisoned and murdered, but how can any country call itself civilized when it stands idly by and allows little children to be tortured by an unjust government?
According to Viet Bao News 15 April 2008, the Vietnamese government sent 2 divisions of its armed forces into the Central Highlands to crush the Degar Christian demonstrations and to seal up the border between Vietnam and Cambodia so that none of the Degar people would be able to escape. General Nong Van Luu even returned to the Gialai province in order to command these forces. Why do they do this to Degar people??? The Vietnamese government does not allow independent journalists to travel freely into the Central Highlands and at the same time it closes its borders so that Degar people will be tortured and murdered at will of its soldiers, police and civilians. Why doesn’t the world community do anything?

According to the United Nations and most of the world community, the crime of genocide is unforgivable, too horrible to imagine. Why then the UN and international community stand idly by while our race is being exterminated? Surely, there should be no doubt that Vietnam is carrying out a systematic policy of genocide against our people. When three year-old toddlers are beaten and thrown down an embankment and old women are beaten to the brink of death, what else could this mean? Vietnam has a very long history of hatred towards our people. We are despised by the government and civilians alike, who are all co-conspirators in our annihilation. They take our lands so we have no food to eat. Thus we starve. They imprison, beat, poison, and slowly torture to death our people so that we gradually decline in numbers until we are no more.

Again, there is nothing that we the Degar people can do to resist the Vietnamese government and its inhumane influence, except to pray that our Almighty God will help us to endure this horrible time of persecution. We humbly ask all of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world remember us in their prayers.

On behalf of the indigenous Degar people in the Central Highlands, the Montagnard Foundation urges the International Community, especially, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Union and the United States of America to form a delegation to investigate the current situation of the Degar people in the Central Highlands and to urge Vietnam to withdraw its armed forces and police forces out of Central Highlands and find a peaceful resolution to solve the problem between our two people. There is no reason for the Vietnamese government sent its armed forces to the Central Highlands during a time of peace unless it considered Degar people as its enemy. If so, what the United Nations and International Community are going to do?? Are they going to allow the Vietnamese government to kill all Degar people or are they going to work to help solve this problem so that both people can live together in peace as one people and one nation? Again, there is nothing that we the Degar people can do to protect ourselves from the destructive and genocidal policies of the Vietnamese government except to depend on the mercy of the United Nations, the World Community and our God. We pray that our Almighty God will touch the heart of the World Community or to strengthen our people to endure the agony of death that we are going through at the present time. But whatever it will be, it must be according to the will of our Lord God.

Now, Degar people can clearly see that the desire of the Vietnamese government and people’s hearts is not to find a peaceful resolution but to utterly annihilate our race. Moreover, they will surely succeed unless the United Nations and the World Community intervene. The Vietnamese government and people will always find ways and reasons to carry out its policy of genocide until our race is completely wiped out from the face of the earth so that they can freely possess our lands without any interference or potential threats. Therefore, if it is God’s will, then, please help our people. We need your help very badly, especially now. We hope and pray that our people will be allowed to survive until the day that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to receive us all to His own. Thanks and God bless.

 

 

Category: Special Report  |  Comment

VIETNAMESE SECURITY POLICE ATTACK DEGAR CHRISTIANS WITH MACHETES: CASUALTY LIST: 11 WOUNDED SO FAR – BEATEN, SLASHED & ELECTRIC SHOCKED

19th April 2008, 10:55 pm

REPORT (PART I) OF THE DEGAR CHRISTIANS NON VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION IN VIETNAM’S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ON APRIL 11, 2008
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Peaceful and non-violent protest at the commune of Ia Chia

On April 11, 2008 at around 2:00PM, more than 50 Christians from the villages of Ploi Bang, Ploi Beng and Ploi Kom went with their children to the communal office of Ia Chia demanding the release of Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don whom were unjustly arrested earlier that morning.  They were confronted by hostile and aggressive security police denying them entrance into the communal office. When the protestors refused to leave the vicinity, the security police responded with the arrest 2 of our Christian brothers, Ksor Ien and Rahlan Toi.  They were subsequently placed in the prison facility located in the district of Ia Grai where they are still held to this day. The remaining believers who continued their protest were physically forced back to their homes at which time ending the protest at around 9pm that day.    To prevent any further protesting, the villagers were then confined to their homes to such an extent that no one was allowed to leave for food or water.

Peaceful and non-violent protest at the commune of Cu Se

On the same day April 11, 2008 the Vietnamese government sent around 550 soldiers and security police along with approximately 500 Vietnamese civilians to surround 3 Degar villages (Ploi Tot Hang Ring, Ploi Tot Byoc and Ploi Pang) in the district of Cu Se.  They were fully armed with military war equipments which also included electrical batons, swords, and machetes and so on.  The Vietnamese civilians, on the other hand, were carrying makeshift weapons such as metal rods, wooden sticks with protruding nails, bamboo sticks, shovels, machetes, swords and rocks.

They strategically placed 100 of the security forces inside Ploi Tot Hang Ring, 100 inside Ploi Tot Byoc, and 550 inside ploi Pang.  The remaining forces were used to monitor the periphery. This was done in an attempt to intimidate the Degar villagers who were threatened with bodily harm and imprisonment if they left their homes.

Peaceful and non-violent protest at the commune of Ia Hleo

On April 12, 2008 Degar Christian rallied their brother and sisters in Christ from the villages of Buon Sam, Buon Dang and Buon Hwing (approximately 200) to conduct a peaceful and non-violent demonstration in front of the communal office of Ia Hleo demanding the release of our Christian brothers and sister, Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don.  They also demanded:

  • The release of over 350 of our Christian brothers and sisters who are held in the brutal and inhumane Vietnamese prisons which includes all Degar people who have been arrested and sent to prison since 2001 up to the present time.
  • Stop the persecution towards Degar people and work to achieve peace among the races.
  • Give Degar people freedom to worship their God and manage their own independent churches.
  • Give them back their right to their ancestral lands and manage their own local business among themselves to control their own lives.

Instead of listening to these demands, the Vietnamese government arrogantly responded by sending its soldiers, police and civilians to suppress its indigenous people cries for peace. They delivered brutal and mercilessly beatings, and imprisonment of the following individuals below:

  1. Our brother Siu Bhiao, age 22 from the village of Buon Dang, was attacked by a Vietnamese security police who wacked him on the head with a sword. His injuries were so severe that he required immediate medical attention in the district of Ia Hleo.  At this present time, his condition is unknown.
  2. Our brother Oi Kjoh, from the village of Buon Dang, was attacked by a Vietnamese security police who sprayed him directly in the eyes with tear gas, shocked him with an electrical baton and mercilessly beat him from head to toe to unconsciousness.  The police feared that they had killed him and immediately took him to a clinic close by in the district of Ia Hleo.  At this time his condition is unknown.
  3. Our brother Un Adrong, from the village of Buon Dang, was wacked with a machete to unconsciousness by the Vietnamese security police.  They also took him to a clinic in the nearby district of Ia Hleo.  At this time, his condition is unknown.
  4. Our brother Siu Thai, from the village of Buon Sam, was sprayed with tear gas in his eyes and then violently and brutally beaten with a police baton, wooden stick, and stock of a rifle until he fell to the ground unconscious.  He was then transported to the clinic in the district of Ia Hleo.
  5. Our brother Nai Moi, from the village of Buon Sam, was hit with the edge of a shield on the back of the head and knocked unconscious.  He also suffered a severe laceration from the attack.
  6. Our brother Ro-o Blol, from the village of Buon Sam, was stabbed with a knife under his chin.
  7. Our brother Siu Hlor, from the village of Buon Sam, was shocked with an electrical baton until he fell down unconscious.  They then began to beat him with a stick and kick him with their heavy military boot.
  8. Our brother Siu Luang, age 36 from the village of Ploi mnang, commune of Ia Pa, district of Ia Pa in the province of Gialai was visiting his family at Buon Sam.  While he was trying to help his brothers and sisters who were injured from the attacks from the security police, he was shocked with an electrical baton and knocked down unconscious.
  9. Our Sister Siu H’Ngoi, age 53 from the village of Buon Sam, was also trying to help her brothers and sisters who were seriously injured during the attack at which time the police sprayed her in the eyes with tear gas, shocked her with an electrical baton which knocked her down to the ground, and beaten until she completely passed out.
  10. Our brother Ksor Mrak, from the village of Buon Sam, was wacked with a machete on the head and knocked down to the ground unconscious.  The family rescued him and took him home for treatment.  The family did not want to take him to a Vietnamese clinic because of fear of being poisoned and murdered.  At the present time we do not have any further information on his condition.
  11. Our brother Ksor Jak, from the village of Buon Sam, was sprayed in the eyes with tear gas and shocked with an electrical baton which knocked him down to the ground.  He was then beaten and kicked to the point of passing out.  He was also rescued by his family and brought home for treatment. Again, they did not want to take him to a Vietnamese clinic for fear of being poisoned and murdered by the Vietnamese doctor and nurses.

We the Degar people would also like to report the gross difference on how the Vietnamese government responds to Degar protesters as they do with the Vietnamese protesters.  For instance, a recent protest by the Vietnamese civilians and farmers over the confiscation of church land in Hanoi and farm land in the city of Ho Chi Minh was not met with the same brutality and hostility as was the Degar protesters.  None of the Vietnamese protesters were physically harmed.  This goes to show the racist prejudices that the Vietnamese government fosters towards the Degar people.  This threatens and violates their human rights as citizens of Vietnam.  Therefore, we ask that our people be treated as equal citizens.  In addition, we ask the Vietnamese government to encourage good relations with our people and not fostering such racism and hate.

On behalf of the indigenous Degar people in the Central Highlands, the Montagnard Foundation urge the International Community, especially, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Union and the United States of America to form a delegation to investigate the situation of Degar people in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Follow-up report will be posted soon.

 

 

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MASS DEMONSTRATION ERUPTS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

15th April 2008, 09:02 am

THE PEACEFUL AND NON-VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION SPARKED AT ONE OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT COMMUNAL VILLAGES HAS SPREAD TO MANY OTHER VILLAGES IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM

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The following villages have joined the peaceful and non-violent demonstrations, requesting that the government release our Degar Christian brothers and sisters who have recently been arrested and also for every Degar prisoner who has been unjustly imprisoned since February of 2001.  Demonstrators are also asking the Vietnamese government to respect the United Nations treaties and covenants which they have signed, affirming the basic human rights of the Degar and their rights as indigenous peoples.

1 - More than 50 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi Bang, Ploi Beng and Ploi Kom conducted a peaceful and non-violent protest for the release of their Christian brothers and sister, Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don, at the communal of Ia Chia, district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai on April 11, 2008.

2 - Around 22 Degar Christians from the village of Ploi Sung Kep conducted a protest at the communal of Ia Kla, district of Duc Co in the province of Gialai for the same reason and on the same date, April 11, 2008.

3 - Around 150 Degar Christians from the village of Ploi Kenh Siu conducted a protest at the communal of Cu Prong, district of Cu Se in the province of Gialai for the same reason on April 12, 2008.

4 - Around 200 Degar Christians from the villages of Buon Sam, Buon Dang and Buon Hwing conducted a protest at the communal of Ia Hleo, district of Ia Hleo in the province of Daklak for the same reason and on the same date, April 12, 2008.

5 - More than 100 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi R’bai, Ploi Crung and Ploi Ksing conducted a protest at the communal of Ia Piar, district of Phu Thien in the province of Gialai for the same reason and on the same date, April 12, 2008.

6 - More than 250 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi Khop, Ploi Ciom, Ploi Hluh, Ploi Del and Ploi Te conducted a protest in front of the village of Ploi Del, the communal of Ia To, district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai for the same reason on April 13, 2008.

7 - More than 200 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi Tomong, Ploi Krung and Ploi Nang conducted a protest in front of the communal of Ia To, district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai for the same reason and on the same date, April 13, 2008.

8 - On April 11, 2008, at around 6:00 am in the morning, approximately 7,000 Degar from 5 different communal villages of Ia Uor, Cu Drang, Ia Siom, Cu Rkam, and R’sai in the district of Krong Pa the province of Gialai conducted a protest in front of the communal village of Ia Siom. The Vietnamese government responded by sending around 1,500 soldiers and together with security police violently and brutally pushed them back to their villages, where they were placed under house arrest with soldiers left to guard them.

9 - On the same day, Friday April 11, 2008, at around 12:00 o’clock noon, approximately 350 Degar Christiansfrom the village of Buon Pung conducted a protest in front of the communal office of Ia Lam in the district of Song Hinh in the province of Phu Yen for the same reason - to request that the Vietnamese government release all Degar prisoners who have been unjustly arrested and imprisoned since 2001 and also for the Vietnamese government to stop all hostility and prejudice towards the Degar people. Degar protesters desire a peaceful solution to the current conflict between the Degar and Vietnamese, hoping that the two peoples can soon live in peace as one people and one Nation. In response to this reasonable request, the Vietnamese government sent around 500 soldiers together with security police and shot tear gas into the crowd. Officials shocked the protesters with electric batons and beat them with sticks and clubs, brutally and violently pushing the protesters to return to their homes, oftentimes even at gunpoint. What’s more, when the protesters arrived home, there were already 150 security police and soldiers waiting for them. The police proceeded to lock villagers inside their homes and refusing to allow anyone to leave - not even to get food and water for their children or even to relieve them-selves. Remember, Degar villagers do not have indoor plumbing like many Vietnamese citizens, so this house arrest was exponentially unfair.  This is how the Vietnamese government treats the Degar people when they ask the government simply to respect their human rights and rights as indigenous people, rights which Vietnam affirmed by accepting the United Nations treaties, covenants, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

10 - The Vietnamese government also sent around 150 soldiers together with security police to the Degar villages in the commune of Ia Lam, Buon Gao, Buon Hok and Buon Bai, in order to lock the villagers inside their home. These villagers were not even allowed the chance to protest since they were locked inside their homes with a Vietnamese guard stationed at every house.

Time and time again, Vietnam is disregarding its own laws when dealing with the Degar people. Observe the following Vietnamese laws: 

Article 69
The citizen shall enjoy freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of the press, the right to be informed, and the right to assemble, form associations and hold demonstrations in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 70
The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law.

The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law.

No one can violate freedom of belief and of religion; nor can anyone misuse beliefs and religions to contravene the law and State policies.

Article 71
The citizen shall enjoy inviolability of the person and the protection of the law with regard to his life, health, honor and dignity.

No one can be arrested in the absence of a ruling by the People’s Court, a ruling or sanction of the People’s Office of Supervision and Control except in case of flagrant offenses. Taking a person into, or holding him in, custody must be done with full observance of the law.

It is strictly forbidden to use all forms of harassment and coercion, torture, violation of his honor and dignity, against a citizen.

Article 72
No one shall be regarded as guilty and be subjected to punishment before the sentence of the Court has acquired full legal effect.

Any person who has been arrested, held in custody, prosecuted, brought to trial in violation of the law shall be entitled to damages for any material harm suffered and his reputation shall be rehabilitated. Anybody who contravenes the law in arresting, holding in custody, prosecuting, bringing to trial another person thereby causing him damage shall be dealt with severely.

What is the purpose of these laws, if not to protect citizens from an abusive government? Are these laws hollow, designed to do nothing but conceal Vietnam’s evil acts from the international community?

If Vietnam holds an important position at the United Nations, that is - membership in the UN Security Council, but disregards UN law, how can Vietnam then convince other UN State Members to follow the UN laws?

The Degar people cry out to the international community to come to our aid. We ask that world leaders exert economic and political pressure on the Vietnamese government in order to convince them to respect the human rights and indigenous rights of the Degar people and most of all to respect the United Nations treaties, UN Covenants, UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
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A NEW DEMONSTRATION ERUPTS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

13th April 2008, 09:57 pm

A NEW DEMONSTRATION ERUPTS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AS THE DEGAR PEOPLE PROTEST THE CONTINUOUS AND BRUTAL PERSECUTION OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT

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A peaceful and nonviolent demonstration is currently underway throughout the Central Highlands at this moment, and the Vietnamese authorities are, moreover, continuing to arrest and torture Indigenous Degar demonstrators. Vietnamese soldiers are now blocking roads, making arrests and attacking our people. Degar villagers throughout the Central Highlands report that they are fed up with racism and religious persecution, and that they want their relatives released from prison.

The following details how the demonstration was sparked:

On Wednesday April 9, 2008 at around 6:30 pm, four Vietnamese security police came to the house of our Christian sister, Puih H’Bat, in the village of Ploi Bang and commune of Ia Chia, from the district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai while she was leading 20 Christian believers in prayer at her home.  The security police demanded that all of the Degar believers sign a document agreeing to join the Hoi Thanh Tin Lanh Vietnam (The Evangelical Church of Vietnam), which is the government sanctioned church. Those refusing to sign this document would be arrested, tortured and imprisoned.  All Christian believers at the home of Puih H’Bat that night refused to sign the document.

The next day, on April 10, 2008, at around 8:00pm in the evening, many more security police supported with Vietnamese soldiers came to the village of Ploi Bang and summoned all the villagers to report to Ploi Bang Elementary school. The soldiers accused the people of following Ksor Kok and worshiping him.  The villagers and believers laughed at this and told the security police that “we do not follow the religion of Ksor Kok or worship him.  He is not god.  We only follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and worship our Almighty God the Father.” The security police continued to threaten and intimidate the villagers, attempting to coerce them into signing the document joining the official government sanctioned church. When everyone refused, they dismissed the meeting at around 10:00PM. 

On the day after that, on April 11, 2008, at around 4:00AM in the morning, 8 Vietnamese security police stormed into the house of our Christian sister, Puih H’Bat, and arrested her. They put her in a truck and took her to the prison facility in the district of Ia Grai.  On that same night, the security police also arrested two other Christian brothers, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don.  At the arrest of Ksor Sim, police sprayed some kind of dreadful chemical inside his house in order to force the whole family out in the open. Once outside, the security police shocked Ksor Sim with electric batons until he collapsed to the ground.  His wife and 16 year-old daughter ran over to see if he was alive or dead, and the ruthless security police then beat and shocked them with their electrical batons until they also collapsed.

On this same day, April 11, 2008 at around 2:00PM, more than 50 Christian believers from the villages of Ploi Bang, Ploi Beng and Ploi Kom went with their children to the communal office of Ia Chia to demand the release of Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don.  They could not enter the communal office, however, because security police became aggressive and violently pushed them back. When they refused to leave the vicinity, the security police arrested 2 more of our Christian brothers, Ksor Ien and Rahlan Toi, and also imprisoned them at the Ia Grai facility.  The remaining believers still refused to leave and, therefore, security police and soldiers used their men to physically drag villagers back to their homes.  Eventually, all of the Christian Degar believers were forcibly returned to their villages at around 9 pm.

The Degar Christians state that they will not stop asking for their basic human rights and rights as an indigenous people to be respected. Furthermore they will not stop protesting, albeit peacefully and nonviolently. The Degar people know that the situation is urgent because Vietnamese authorities are constantly torturing and brutalizing our Christian brothers and sisters in prison. Currently, Degar believers in other provinces also have begun peaceful protests, demanding that:

  1. the Vietnamese government release all Degar prisoners who have been imprisoned from 2001 until the present time, including the 350 identified in the Human Rights Watch Report on the 14th of June, 2006 and the five Degar Christians described in this press release who were arrested last week

  2. the Vietnamese Government cease persecution of Degar Christians and allow them to worship in peace and to govern their own independent churches

  3. the Vietnamese Government stop confiscating Degar Ancestral Lands, which are necessary to the survival of our people

The Degar people cry out to the international community to come to our aid. We ask that world leaders exert economic and political pressure on the Vietnamese government in order to coerce them into dealing more humanely with our people. After all, the Degar people only want their rights as citizens of Vietnam.

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