The Vietnamese government has publicly declared to the world they permit religious freedom. However, this Christmas - December 2001 the Montagnard (Degar people) in the Central Highlands organized a peaceful prayer vigil to pray and celebrate Christmas.  In retaliation, the Vietnamese government mobilized more soldiers and security forces to the Central Highlands increasing the repression of these people. Degar Christians were tortured and many disappeared after being arrested by Vietnamese authorities. Unbelievably some have been forced to drink pig’s blood and renounce Christ. The US State Dept reported similar atrocities in Sept 2000 in their Vietnam Annual Report on International Religious Freedom stating, “…Protestant Christians in several northwestern villages were forced by local officials to recant their faith and to perform traditional Hmong religious rites such as drinking blood from sacrificed chickens...”

Some examples this Christmas of atrocities against Degars are listed below here:  

Arrests, beatings and torture:   

On December 18, 2001, Rmah Hoih who lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, spoke with one of his relatives “Blek” living at the hamlet of Plei Nglom Thung, communal village of Ia Pet, district of Dak Doa, province of Gia Lai in the Central Highlands of Vietnam on the phone.  They discussed the Christmas prayer vigil on December 24-25.  Two days later on December 20, 2001, four police officers from the district of Dak Doa, named Tuan, Hung, Thach and Thom, went to Blek's village and arrested him. They took him to prison, beat him until he was unconscious and released him after two days.  They threatened him with death and told him not to practice Christianity. Now, he is hiding in the jungles for fear of being arrested and tortured again but soon he will be found, arrested and killed by the Vietnamese government if the world ignore the critical situation in the Central Highlands.

Figure 8 Torture

On December 18, 2001, a Vietnamese police officer from district of Cu Se, province of Gia Lai, whose name is Thang, arrested a Degar man named Siu Kron at his village of Plei Ken Hmek and tortured him. Siu Kron was imprisoned for two days and a half because he was planning to lead Christians in his village to the prayer vigil on December 24-25.  In the process of torturing, Thang, hand cuffed Siu Kron as a figure of number 8 (his left hand was twisted to his back and his right hand was twisted over his shoulder to his back and then hand cuffed his wrists together).  Then, Thang placed sticks between his fingers and beat him up until he passed out.  After he had severely beaten Siu Kron, Thang let him go home. However, Siu Kron could barely walk back to his village because of the pain that he had received during the torture.  On the morning of December 19, 2001, Thang went back to the same village and arrested Rmah Nui who was Siu Kron's assistant and took him to the prison for torturing in the same way. Thang tortured Rmah Nui until he collapsed and released him on the same day.

House arrests and Torture

On December 20, 2001, the police officers from the communal village of Ia Pet went to the hamlet of Plei Bia Bre and arrested 6 Degar Christians and imprisoned them at their communal village.  Their names are: Khoi, Cram, Proh, Crung, Tuo and Croc and they are all from the hamlet of Plei Bia Bre, communal village of Ia Pet, district of Dak Doa, province of Gia Lai.  On December 25, 2001, the police took Khoi and Cram to the prison facility at T-20 in Pleiku for torture but released the other four.  At the prison, the police beat Khoi and Cram until they revealed the names of other people who were planning to attend the Christmas prayer vigil celebration.  Under constant torture the two Degars couldn’t bear the pain and they told the police about a Degar whose name is Ama Koi, who was organizing the Christmas prayer vigil.  Now, this man is hiding in the jungle for fear of being arrested, tortured and killed.  

Arrests and Disappearances

On December 23, 2001, the Vietnamese government police arrested the following Degar Christians for planning to attend the Christmas prayer vigil. Their whereabouts is currently unknown. Have they been tortured or even executed?

Fleeing Refugees sold for bounties

On December 23, 2001, we got a report from the Central Highlands saying that approximately 300 Degar refugees tried to flee across the Cambodian border to escape arrest by Vietnamese soldiers.  However, Cambodian soldiers and police were waiting for them.  On December 28-29, 2001, the Cambodian government actually sold many of these Christians (a bounty was paid for each refugee) back to Vietnamese authorities without notifying UNHCR representatives in the area.  The Montagnard Foundation as well as the families of these Degars, worry about their well-being and their lives.   We plea to the US government and Congress, United Nations Human Rights Commission, European Union, and all the peace loving countries in the world make sure that these Degars are not being tortured and to prevent them from being killed. We ask they be returned to their families safely. 

According to our people in the Central Highlands, the Vietnamese authorities took Degar refugees back to Dak Mil district, Daklak province and tortured  each and everyone of them.  It made no different to the authorities if they were women or men or children.  They all were tortured by beatings and electric prod.  The Vietnamese authorities whipped women and children with twisted telephone wire and shocked them with electric currents after they had stripped them naked.  The men were beaten with rifle stock and shocked with electric currents until they passed out.  At this time we don't know where the Vietnamese government has taken these men and women.  So far, we have found out 4 women and 4 children had been sent back to their village as we have listed below and 24 men have been sent to prison in Buonmathuot whose names we don't know yet.  One man of this group suffered from broken arm and the other one suffered from broken leg  because of torturing.    

1. Y-Thuon Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Kwang, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

2. Y-Tin Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

3. Y-Coi Buon Krong, from the hamlet of Buon Ko Mleo, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

4. Y-Phuot Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

5. Y-Nam Mlo, from the hamlet of Buon De, district of Krong Hnang, province of Daklak.

6. H'Ngem Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

7. H'Blen Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

8. Y-Dhiar Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

9. Y-Andre Ksor, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

10. H'Dung Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

11. H'Jip Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

12. Y-Philip Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

13. Y-Yia Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

14. H'Doi Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

15. H'Ha Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

16. H'Rahat Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

17. Y-Nal Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

18. Y-Tim Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

19. Y-Tieu Ktla, from the hamlet of Buon Cuah, district of Krong Ana, province of Daklak.

20. Y-Nin Hwing, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

21. H'Ye Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

22. H'Nur Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

23. H'Nui Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

24. Y-Nier Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

25.  H'Un Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

26. Y-Yet Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

27. H'Blum Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

28. Y-Thom Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

29. Y-Broi Hdok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

30. H'Lin Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

31. Y-Krot Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

32. Y-Khoan Hwing, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

33. Y-Put Hdok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

34. Y-Kuot Buon Krong, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

35. Y-Blan Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

36. Y-Keo Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

37. Y-Ton Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

38. Y-Thom Buon Krong, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

39. H'Thuyen Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. (she has 6 children with her)

40. Y-Tuan Kbuor, from the hamlet of Buon Poc, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

41. Y-Den Buon Krong, from the hamlet of Buon Poc, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

42. Y-Thang Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Kwang, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

43. Y-Suan Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Kwang, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

44. Y-Bah Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Kwang, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

45. H'Den Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Kwang, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

46. Y-Ly Nie, from the hamlet of Buon De, district of Krong Hnang, province of Daklak.

47. Y-Dem Mlo, from the hamlet of Buon De, district of Krong Hnang, province of Daklak.

48. Y-Ngok, from the hamlet of Buon Mui, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

49. Y-Djuot, from the hamlet of Buon Mui, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

50. Y-Nin Hwing, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

51. Y-Nier Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

52. Y-Brot Hdok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

53. Y-Krot Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

54. Y-Khoan Hwing, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

55. Y-Put Hdok, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

56. Y-Kuot Buon Krong, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

57. Y-Den Buon Krong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

58. Y-Lok Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

59.  H'Hom Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

60. Y-Hau Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

61. Y-Hia Mlo, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

62. H'Nghiep Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

63. Y-Kon Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

64. H'Luet Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

65. Thuen Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

66. Y-Thia Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

67. Y-Huong Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

68. H'Am Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

69. H'Nan Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

70. Y-Klong Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

71. H'Mo Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

72. Y-Mol Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

73. H'Bong Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

74. H'Ja Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

75. H'Nuk Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

76. H'Yoc Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

77. H'Pi Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

78. H'Wak Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

79. H'Buin Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

80. Y-Ya Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

81. Y-Thanh Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

82. Y-Dlah Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

83. Y-Nien Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

84. Y-Mer Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

85. Y-Ueng Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

86. Y-Tak Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

87. Y-Nia Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

88. Y-Tuot Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

89. Y-Thien Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

90. H'Muong Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

91. H'Chuong Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

92. Y-Khom Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

93. H'Mrah Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

94. Y-Tim Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

95. H'Wi Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

96. H'Cin Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

97. H'Dala Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

98. H'Wit Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

99. Y-Soaih Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

100. Y-Lit Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

101. Y-Hem Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

102. H'Ngem Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

103. H'Rau Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

104. H'Luo Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

105. Y-Thom Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

106. H'Mim Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

107. Y-Din Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

108. Y-Dhia Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

109. Y-Kue Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

110. Y-Thoa nuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

111. H'Blen Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

112. Y-Seh Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Kwang, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

113. Y-Nai Mlo, from the hamlet of Buon De, district of Krong Hnang, province of Daklak.

114. Y-Yap Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

115. H'Uen Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.  (1 child)

116. H'Ya Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.  (child 4-year old)

117. H'Linda Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

118. Y-No Hwing, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Ea Bong, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

119. Y-Ngai Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

120. Y-Ciem Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

121. Y-Tien Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

122.  Y-Bli Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

123. Y-Deng Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

124.  Y-Wo Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

125. Y-Thien Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

126. Y-Ngue Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

127. Y-Lat Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

128. Y-Wia Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

129. Y-Piot Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

130. Y-Tiang Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

131. Y-thieu Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

132. Y-Ling Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

133. Y-Nia Enuol, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

134. Y-Khuong Alio, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

135. Y-Cun Alio, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

136. Y-Khan Alio, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

137. Y-Can Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

138. Y-Blat Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

139. H'Wel Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

140. H'Wia Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

141. Y-Thuy Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

142. H'On Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

143. H'Tro Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

144. H'Tlieng Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

145. Y-Ku Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

146. H'Wel Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

147. H'Ngiat Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

148. Y-Oan Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

149. Y-Thoi Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak.

150. Y-Bang Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Ayun, district of Ea Hleo, province of Daklak.

151. Y-Tluop Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Ayun, district of Ea Hleo, province of Daklak.

152. H'Mui Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Ayun, district of Ea Hleo, province of Daklak.

153. H'Na Eban, from the hamlet of Buon Ayun, district of Ea Hleo, province of Daklak.

154. Y-Ngok Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Dung, district of Ea Hleo, province of Daklak.

155. Y-Duot Nie, from the hamlet of Buon Dung, district of Ea Hleo, province of Daklak.

156. Y-Nguk, from the hamlet of Buon Mui, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

157. Y-Djuot, from the hamlet of Buon Mui, district of Krong Buk, province of Daklak.

158. Rmah Pol, from the hamlet of Plei Ba Tel, district of Cu Se, province of Gia Lai.

159. Rahlan Pum, from the hamlet of Plei Ba Tel, district of Cu Se, province of Gia Lai.

160. Siu Put, from the hamlet of Plei Kenh Hmek, district of Cu Se, province of Gia Lai.

161. H'Dat Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Ko Mleo, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

Women and children who were tortured

The following are the names of women and children whom the Vietnamese authorities had sent back to their own village.  These people are now suffering medical problems and bedridden because of the effects of torture by beatings and electric prod.  H'lin Adrong and H'lim Alio were seriously injured while tortured by electric prod and beatings with twisted telephone wire until they passed out.

1. H'Ye Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Cuor Knia, district of Buon Don, province of Daklak.

2. H'Nur Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. (child)

3. H'Nui Knul, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. (child)

4. H'Un Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

5. H'Blum Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. (child)

6. Y-Thom Hmok, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. (child)

7. H'Lin Adrong, from the hamlet of Buon Dha Prong, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak.

8. H'Lim Alio, from the hamlet of Buon Sut Hluot, district of Cu Mgay, province of Daklak.

 Arrest and Disappearance

On December 25, 2001, the Vietnamese government police arrested a Degar Christian named Y-Kuo Buon Ya, from the hamlet of Buon Ko Mleo, district of Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. His whereabouts and fate is unknown.  

Beaten and left for dead

On December 25, 2001, a Christian Degar named Hoa, from the hamlet of Plei Do Nao, communal village of Bo Ngong, district of Cu Se, province of Gia Lai, left his hamlet for Plei Bia Bre to celebrate Christmas and pray. Vietnamese soldiers stopped him, beat him up severely and left him on the road half dead.

Mass beatings

In the area of Dak Doa district in the province of Gia Lai, the Degar Christians came from different hamlets to celebrate Christmas and pray at Plei Bia Bre.   After Christmas, the Degar Christians went back to their own hamlet but the Vietnamese authorities would not let Degar Christians leave peacefully.  The government sent their police to different hamlets to arrest the Degar Christians, brought them to the communal villages, beat them up and then sent them home.  There are thousands of Degar Christians that the Vietnamese government has arrested and beaten up and then sent them home but we only find out a few of them.  Their names are as followed:

1. Ying, from Plei Wet, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 25, 2001.

2. Pung, from Plei Wet, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 25, 2001.

3. Weh,from Plei Bia Tih, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 25, 2001.

4. Khon, from Plei Bia Tih, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 25, 2001.

5. Kpa Hlor, from Plei Luh Ngo, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 25, 2001.

6. Puih Nun, from Plei Luh Ngo, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 25, 2001.

7. Cel, from Plei Brong Goai, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 26, 2001.

8. Hoa,from Plei Brong Goai, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province, was arrested and beaten on December 26, 2001.

Forced to drink pig’s blood and renounce Christ

On December 24-25, 2001, around 200 Vietnamese police and soldiers plus hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the area, went into the hamlets of Buon Sup "A", Buon Sup "B", Buon Sup "C", Buon Ea Rok and Buon Koya and destroyed all of the Christmas decorations that Degar villagers have set up.  They threatened to arrest, beat up and imprison those Degars who came out of their house to worship. They then killed a pig and forced the Degar villagers to make a sacrifice and drink the blood.  The Vietnamese soldiers also forced the Degar villagers to renounce Christ. All over the Central Highlands the government has sent police and soldiers to various Degar hamlets to do the same methods of intimidation.

Degar Christian prisoners who have been moved from local prison facilities

1. Y-Rin Kpa, from old radio station prison in Buonmathuot, Daklak, has been moved to Hanoi.

2. Y-Nok Mlo, from old radio station prison in Buonmathuot, Daklak, has been moved to Hanoi.

3. Y-Tum Mlo, from old radio station prison in Buonmathuot, Daklak, has been moved to Hanoi.

4. Y-Bhiet Nie Kdam, from old radio station prison in Buonmathuot, Daklak, has been moved to Hanoi.

5. Bom, from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

6. Ksor Poi,  from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

7. Ksor Kroih, from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

8. Prom, from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

9. Siu Tin, from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

10. Ksor Blung, from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

11. Ksor Alup, from T-20 prison in Pleiku, Gia Lai, his whereabouts unknown.

Conclusion: Religious repression and extermination of the Montagnard/Degar People 

The Vietnamese communist government is currently arresting, torturing and imprisoning the Montagnard/Degar people in order to threaten and intimidate our race. They want our people to stop practicing Christianity. Even in this day and age the authorities STILL continue with propaganda that we should worship Ho Chi Minh and not follow Christ. Even in the year 2001 the Vietnamese authorities STILL talk of Christianity of being a religion of the "foreign enemies" and the CIA. The Vietnamese communist government however, has no problem in taking aid monies or doing trade with Western governments.

Now all the Montagnard/Degar people understand that sooner or later, we all are going to die.  

Why do we have to wait and suffer from the pain of torture and hunger and years of repressive policies by Hanoi?  Soon all the Montagnard/Degar people men, women, old or children, will go ahead and plead guilty to the Vietnamese government. The Vietnamese government can then imprison or kill all 600,000 of our people. We will plead guilty to being Christians and also to asking for our rights to our lands and rights to live as an indigenous race of people and then they can kill us all - as we walk to their prisons. We are slowly dying  anyway   - so what do we have to lose?  But, we would like to ask the people of the world to please come to the Central Highlands and see the Vietnamese government executing the Montagnard/Degar people.

After we all die, the communists will have succeeded in their goal of eliminating the Montagnard/Degar race – the last of the indigenous people of the central highlands and one of the oldest cultures in Asia.