BACKGROUND: The indigenous Montagnards (Degar) Peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the communist government of Vietnam, namely; confiscation of their ancestral lands, religious repression, torture, killings and unjust imprisonment. On 10 January 2005 Human Rights Watch reported on this year’s Christmas repression, stating in a Briefing Paper, “in the weeks leading up to Christmas, police were busy rounding up and arresting dozens of Montagnard Christians and detaining them at district and provincial police stations and prisons throughout the region. In Gia Lai province alone--one of five provinces in the Central Highlands—police arrested 129 people between December 12 and 24.” Human Rights Watch has also previously recorded the names of 188 Montagnards who had received harsh prison sentences of up to thirteen years since 2001 for their Christian religious activities, participation in peaceful protests, or for attempting to flee to Cambodia.

Vietnam authorities have tried to downplay the repression and on January 11, 2005, Le Dung, a spokesperson for Viet Nam’s Foreign Ministry, said in a response to an AFP journalist that, “ethnic groups in Tay Nguyen, had a very merry Christmas” and stated “there had been no cases of ethnic minority Protestants being arrested or tortured in the period of December 12-24, 2004, as was reported by the Human Rights Watch.”
The Montagnard Foundation however, contradicts this statement by the Vietnamese authorities and confirms in this following report that hundreds of Montagnards were indeed arrested and tortured over the Christmas period. This information came direct from Montagnard Foundation members inside Vietnam who supplied this information at great risk to themselves. The report identifies 84 Montagnard Degar Christians who were arrested, brutally tortured or have disappeared after being arrested during the 2004 Christmas period and into the new year noting that the real figure is much higher as authorities have taken extraordinary measures to prevent human rights abuses from reaching the outside world. The whereabouts and condition of many of the victims listed here is currently unknown and difficult to ascertain due to the media blackout and repressive tactics conducted by Vietnamese authorities.

CHRISTIANS ARRESTED, TORTURED AND IMPRISONED

1. RAHLAN LON, 30 years old, from the village of Plei Ngol, district of Cu Se, province of Pleiku was arrested at around 3 AM in the morning of January 5, 2005 because he was a Christian who refused to join the government recognized church (ECVN). At the Cu Se District police station he was severely tortured by beatings and repeatedly kicked. The police then imprisoned him at the prison facility at T-20 in Pleiku.

2. SIU THONG, 43 years old, from the village of Plei Per, district of Cu Se, province of Pleiku was arrested on January 19, 2005 because he was a Christian who refused to join the government recognized church (ECVN). The police tortured him in front of his family by severely kicking and beating him until he became unconscious. Blood was coming out of his nose and mouth and the police tied his feet and hands and threw him on a jeep and took him away. His physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

3. R’MAH TIR, 31 years old, from the village of Plei Sur, district of Cu Se, Pleiku province was arrested on January 19, 2005 because he was a Christian who refused to join the government recognized church (ECVN). The police also tortured him in front of his family by severely kicking and beating him until he became unconscious. Blood was coming out of his nose and mouth and the police tied his feet and hands and threw him on a jeep and took him away. His physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

4. Y-TEN NIE, DOB 1974, from the village of Buon Brieng “A”, district of Krong Pac, Daklak province was arrested on December 22, 2004 because he was a layman for the house church at his village. He is now imprisoned at the district of Krong Pac.

5. H’DJUN MLO, DOB 1954, from the village of Buon Cuor Kap, Buonmathuot, Daklak province was arrested on December 24, 2004 because she was a laywoman for the house church at her village. Her physical condition and her whereabouts are unknown

6. Y-SEN NIE KPOR, DOB 1962, from the village of Buon Cuor Kap, Buonmathuot, Daklak province was arrested on December 24, 2004 because of owning a cell phone. He was tortured so severely by electric shock and beatings that the police took him to the hospital in Buonmathuot for three days treatment before imprisoning him later at the Old Radio Station prison in Buonmathuot.

7. H’BLON KBUOR, DOB 1972, from the village of Buon Cuor Kap, Buonmathuot province of Daklak was arrested on December 24, 2004 because of being a Christian and owning a cell phone. Her physical condition and her whereabouts are unknown.

8. Y-DJUEN BUONYA, DOB 1970, from the village of Buon Ea Khit, district of Krong Ana province of Daklak was arrested on December 5, 2004 because of preparing to celebrate Christmas in his village. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

9. Y-MIN NIE, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Ale “A”, Buonmathuot, province of Daklak was arrested while praying with his brother (below) on December 17, 2004 and imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.
            Y-BIN NIE, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Ale “A”, Buonmathuot, province of Daklak was arrested with his brother (above) while praying on December 17, 2004 and imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

10. H’TONG, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Ebung, district of Krong Ana province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because she was preaching the Gospel and preparing to celebrate Christmas at her village. She was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

11. Y-WAN NIE, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because he asked the communal police for permission to celebrate Christmas and pray. His physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

12. H’NGOAI NIE, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because she asked the communal police for permission to celebrate Christmas and pray. Her physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

13. Y-NGAI EBAN, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because he asked the communal police for permission to celebrate Christmas and pray. His physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

14. Y-HIN BUONYA, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mdrang, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because he asked the communal police for permission to celebrate Christmas and pray. His physical condition and whereabouts are unknown

15. Y-PHAN, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because he was accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. His condition and whereabouts are unknown.

16. H’MAH ADRONG, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because she was accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas and pray. Her physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

17. H’PIENG ADRONG, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Sut Mgru, district of Cu Mgar province of Daklak was arrested on December 19, 2004 because she was accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas and pray. Her physical condition and whereabouts are unknown.

18. H’NUOI BUONKRONG, DOB 1980, from the village of Buon Tong Ju, district of Krong Ana, Daklak province was arrested on December 21, 2004 because she was a laywoman of her house church. She was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot, province of Daklak. Her physical condition and her whereabouts are unknown.

19. Y-KRUH KBUOR, DOB 1968, from the village of Buon Ko Mleo, Buonmathuot, Daklak province was arrested on December 23, 2004 because of owning a cell phone. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot,

20. Y-SON BUON KRONG, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Ko Mleo, Buonmathuot, was arrested on January 7, 2005 for owning a cell phone. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

21. Y-SUAN BUON YA, DOB unknown, from the village of Buon Ko Mleo, buonmathuot, Daklak province was arrested on January 8, 2005 for owning a cell phone. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

22. Y-ROH NIE, DOB 1975, from the village of Buon Krua, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 22, 2004 for being a deacon of a house church at his village and also because he was preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

23. Y-KUT EBAN, DOB 1971, from the village of Buon Krua, district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 22, 2004 because he is a house church deacon and was accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot, Daklak province.

24. Y-THINH ADRONG, DOB 1978, from the village of Buon Krua “B” district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 21, 2004 because he is a house church deacon and accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot, Daklak province.

25. Y-RUT NIE, DOB 1959, from the village of Buon Krua “B” district of Cu Mgar, province of Dklak was arrested on December 21, 2004 because he is a house church deacon and accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot, Daklak province.

26. Y-OM EBAN, DOB 1948, from the village of Buon Krua “B” district of Cu Mgar, province of Dklak was arrested on December 21, 2004 because he is a house church deacon and accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

27. Y-NU NIE, DOB 1956, from the village of Buon Krua “B” district of Cu Mgar, province of Daklak was arrested on December 21, 2004 because he is a house church deacon and accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

28. Y-KUONG EBAN, DOB 1978, from the village of Buon Tong Ju, Buonmathuot, province of Daklak was arrested on December 22, 2004 because he is a house church deacon and accused of preparing to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

29. Y-DAP ADRONG, DOB 1956, from the village of Buon Brieng “A”, district of Krong Pac, province of Daklak ws arrested of December 24, 2004 because he asked the communal police for permission to celebrate Christmas. He was imprisoned at the prison facility at the old radio station in Buonmathuot.

On 24 October 2004 Christian believers of Ia Ko commune were arrested by three district policemen who came into the village in a jeep at 5am in the morning. One of the policemen is named Ksor Lom but the names of the other two are unknown. The Vietnamese policemen were lead to the Christian believers of Ia Ko commune of Cu Se district by Montagnard policemen. Cu Se district officials paid the three Montagnard police 40,000 Vietnamese dong for identifying the Montagnard Christians below. With their hands cuffed, the leaders of the church were then arrested by police and thrown into the jeep.

30. SIU TAN (age 50 from Hra village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was tied up by police and taken to Cu Se District police authorities because he was Christian group leader for the house church in Cu Go hamlet. The policemen repeatedly beat and kicked him and he was visibly battered and bruised. He is currently detained in the prison site of T-20.

31. KPUIH PLEM (age 30 from Hra village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was arrested because he was the leader of the Christian believers of the Cu Go hamlet. He was taken to Cu Se District authorities and severely beaten. He is currently detained in the prison site of T 20.

32. KPUIH CUR (age 31 from Hra village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was arrested because he was one of the Christian believers of Cu Go hamlet. He was taken in to the district of Cu Se and severely beaten. He is currently detained in the prison site of T 20.

33. KPUIH PHE (age 41 from Hra village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was hand cuffed and taken to Cu Se District police station. After numerous interrogations he was hung up on the wall of the prison room and beaten and kicked until he passed out unconsciously. The policemen then gathered hay and burned it, holding the flames on Kpuih Phe's skin, slowly torturing him. They then skinned part of his body. He was last reported to be in the prison site of T 20.

34. KPUIH KRE (age 43 from Sur-A village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was arrested because he was Christian leader of the house church in Sur-A village. The policemen tortured him and severely beat him. After the torture and interrogation he was taken to the prison site of T 20.

35. RMAH ANEN (age 29 from Per village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was arrested because of his position as a hamlet youth layman. He was taken to the jail located in Cu Se district. There the policemen beat and tortured him. He is presently being held in the jail of Cu Se. Several of his friends tried to bring him food but the Vietnamese police forbade his friends any contact.

36. RMAH AMOT (age 32 from Per village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was arrested because he is one of the laymen for the house church of Per village. He was also taken to the jail located in Cu Se district where the policemen beat him and tortured him. He is presently being held in the jail at Cu Se. His friends also tried to bring him food however, the policemen forbade any contact.

37. NUAI (birth date unknown, is from Sur village, Ia Ko commune, Cu Se district, Gia Lai province) was arrested because he is one of the laymen for the house church of Sur village. He was also taken to the jail located in Cu Se district where the policemen beat and tortured him. He is presently being held in the jail house of Cu Se. The names of the policemen involved in the arrest and torture of these Christian believers are

• Siu Han (Montagnard), who is 24 years old from Hra village, Cu Se district police.

• Siu Thon (Montagnard), who is 43 years old from Hra village, Cu Se district police.

• Two Vietnamese district policemen whose names and rank are unknown.

• Ksor Lom (Montagnard), age 32, a policeman from O Grong village, Cu Se District.

• Siu Alup, (DOB unknown,) from Tai village of Ia Ko commune, district Cu Se.

On November 4, 2004, the Vietnamese government summoned 27 Montagnard Christians to report to the police at Mang Yang district. On November 4, 2004, the 27 people were rounded up and police tried to force them to sign the following agreement 1) that they renounce their Christian beliefs 2) that they stop asking for their land back, 3) they stop following the Montagnard Foundation. These people refused to sign this and the policemen then arrested them and held them in prison. On November 6, 2004 they were released but were threatened by police to carefully rethink about denouncing their religion and resigning their membership with the Montagnard Foundation. Their names are:

38. KUN, age 42 from Crong II village, commune Ha Ra, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

39. TAM, age 29 from Crong II village, commune Ha Ra, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

40. NOR, age 27 from Crong II village, commune Ha Ra, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

41. DAM, age 28 from Crong II village, commune Ha Ra, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

42. GUN, age 27from Crong II village, commune Ha Ra, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

43. PUN, age 34 from K'Gieng village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

44. DONG, age 54 from K'Gieng village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

45. DJUNG, age 36 from K'Gieng village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

46. AMUM, age 27 from K'Gieng village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

47. BUNG, age 36 from Bong Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang yang, Gia Lai province.

48. KHUIN, age 24 from Bong Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang yang, Gia Lai province.

49. KHUNG, age 54 from Bong Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang yang, Gia Lai province.

50. ROH, age 53 from Bong Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang yang, Gia Lai province.

51. BRO, age 39 from Bong Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang yang, Gia Lai province.

52. BEM, age 40 from Bong Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang yang, Gia Lai province.

53. TUU, age 24 from Kon Tong village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

54. TRONG, age 40 from Kon Brung village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

55. PHE, age 37 from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

56. TRU, age 38 from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

57. TRIN, age 47 from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

58. ROH, age 42 from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

59. NUI, age 30 from Ar Kuat village, commune De Ar, district Many Yang, Gia Lai Province.

60. GOC, age unknown, from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

61. PHUN, age unknown, from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

62. PHON, age unknown, from Kon Brung Mor village, commune Ayun, district Mang Yang, Gia Lai province.

63. UNIDENTIFIED MONTAGNARD MAN whose name is unknown UNIDENTIFIED MONTAGNARD MAN whose name is unknown

64. UNIDENTIFIED MONTAGNARD MAN whose name is unknown.

65. HUNG was a fleeing refugee age 27 who escaped into the jungles on May 14, 2002 and arrested at 6a.m on November 1, 2004 by soldiers in two jeeps. The soldiers had surrounded his house located in Tuoh village, commune Go-Lar, district Dak Doa, Gia Lai province and fired rifles at him, as he was hiding in a coffee tree. He immediately surrendered and the soldiers started beating and kicking him. He was bleeding and screaming as they threw him into the jeep which sped away. He has not been heard of since his arrest and it is feared he may have been executed.

66. KSOR HNGLUIH, age 54 from Bui village, Nghia Hung commune, Cu Pah district, Gia Lai province was arrested on October 7, 2004 at around 2 pm by police from Huyen Cu Pah District. He was arrested because they were supplying food and aid to starving Montagnard refugees who were hiding in the forest from authorities.

67. KSOR KRIK, age 40 from Bui village, Nghia Hung commune, Cu Pah district, Gia Lai province was arrested on October 7, 2004 at around 2 pm by police from Huyen Cu Pah District. He was arrested because of supplying food and aid to starving Montagnard refugees who were hiding in the forest from authorities.

68. BUNG who is 36 years old from Bong Mor village (commune of Ayun, district of Mang Yang, Gia Lai province) was arrested at around 5p.m on November 19, 2004 by paramilitary police from the district of Mang Yang. Bung was still showering when the policemen found him. They tied him up taking his cell phone as they suspected that he used a cell phone to report news of human rights abuses in the central highlands to the Montagnard Foundation.

69. AMIN, DOB unknown, from Bia Bre village, commune of Ia Pet, district of Dak Doa, Gia Lai province, was arrested on October 14, 2004. Police severally beat him all over his body on the way to the district police center at Dak Doa. The policemen continued to beat him and shocked him with the electric rods there until he was unconscious, bloody and physically battered. Fearing he would die the police took him to the local hospital. He was released after he regained consciousness.

70. SUON, age 21 from Bong Phun village, commune of Cu-A, Plei Ku City, Gia Lai province was arrested at around 5a.m on October 11, 2004 by five policemen from Pleiku city and paramilitary police of Cu-A commune who tied him up. He and another arrested Montagnard Christian (below) were taken away. Friends and family have searched in vain for their whereabouts but it is still unknown what police did with them.
71. BUM, age 19, from Bong Phun village, commune of Cu-A, Plei Ku City, Gia Lai province was arrested at around 5a.m on October 11, 2004 by five policemen from Pleiku city and paramilitary police of Cu-A commune who tied him up. He and another arrested Montagnard Christian (above) were arrested. Friends and family have searched in vain for their whereabouts but it is still unknown what police did with them. Two of the policemen who arrested Bum and Suon (above) names are:

    • Nguyen Van Loi, Plei Ku city policeman

    • Van Minh, Chief police of the commune of Cu-A.

72. SOC from Mun village, Ia Pet commune, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province was arrested by the policemen on October 14, 2004. His physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown. The names of the police who arrested him are:

• Major Tuan
• Hung, a district policeman.

73. KOR, from Mnu village, commune of Cu-A , Plei Ku city, Gia lai province, on November 6, 2004 the police of Cu A commune forced him to sign his name renouncing his Christian beliefs. He refused and the police repeatedly beat him and kicked him.

74. YAN, from Mnu village, commune Cu-A, Plei Ku city, Gia lai province, on November 6, 2004 the police of Cu A commune forced him to sign his name renouncing his Christian beliefs. He refused and the police repeatedly beat him and kicked him.

75. DJIK, from Mnu village, commune Cu-A, Plei Ku city, Gia lai province, on November 6, 2004 the police of Cu A commune forced him to sign his name renouncing his Christian beliefs. He refused and the police repeatedly beat him and kicked him.

76. KAT, from Mnu village, commune Cu-A, Plei Ku city, Gia lai province, on November 6, 2004 the police of Cu A commune forced him to sign his name renouncing his Christian beliefs. He refused and the police repeatedly beat him and kicked him.

77. KSOR GRIH, age 40 from Bui village, Nghia Hung commune, Cu Pah district, Gia Lai province. On October 8, 2004 at approx. 8a.m district police of Cu Pah, arrested him, tied him up and took him to Cu Pah District prison where police severely tortured him.

78. MIN, from Bong Bao village, Cu-A commune, Plei Ku city, Gia Lai province was arrested on November 5, 2004 by Plei Ku city policemen who surrounded and arrested him in middle of the night. Friends and family have searched for him but couldn’t him anywhere. Presently, his physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown.

79. BYAIH, from Brong Goai village, Ia Pet commune, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai Province was arrested on October 14, 2004 by police. Friends and family have searched for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. Presently, his physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown.

80. THUOT, from Mnu village, commune of Cu-A, Plei Ku city, Gia Lai province was arrested sometime in October 2004 by Pleiku city police. Friends and family have searched for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. Presently, his physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown.

81. THOI, from Mnu village, commune of Cu-A, Plei Ku city, Gia Lai province was arrested sometime in October 2004 by Pleiku city police. Friends and family have searched for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. Presently, his physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown.

82. HLU, age 24 from village of Dup, Habau commune, district of Dak Doa, Gia Lai province was arrested by masked paramilitary police on October 20, 2004 (also arrested with him was “Tam” – see below) . This abduction was witnessed by over a dozen Montagnards who were on their way home from tending their crops. Hlu had been under constant surveillance by security police who wanted to know where his father was hiding. Hlu’s father, a Christian was in hiding in the forest having fled from being arrested some months previously. Hlu however, fearing for his safety could not flee because he had to remain behind to care for his poverty stricken elderly mother and siblings. Friends and family have searched for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. Presently, his physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown.

83. TAM, age 24 from village of Dup, Habau commune, district of Dak Doa, Gia Lai province was arrested by masked paramilitary police on October 20, 2004. Friends and family have searched for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. Presently, his physical condition and his whereabouts are unknown.

INCIDENTS OF REPRESSION AND FORCED RE-NUNCIATION OF CHRISTIANITY

• In the hamlets of Cu A commune of Pleiku City the authorities summoned all the Montagnard villagers who work for the Vietnamese government to gather at the offcial offices located in the commune of Cu A. Here the Montagnards who work for the Vietnamese government were forced to renounce their Christian beliefs.

• In the Commune of Ha Bau, District Dak Doa, Gia Lai Province Vietnamese soldiers were quartered in the houses of Nup and Weo in Kuen Grai village. The mission of these soldiers was to visit local villages and force Montagnard Christians to sign a contract that renounces their Christian religion and land rights.

• In the Commune of Ia Pet, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai province policemen wandered from one village to another on November 2004 to force all Church leaders to reveal themselves to the police force at the commune of Ia Pet, District of Dak Doa, including the villages; Nglom Thung, Bia Bre, Al Hmoi, Al Klah, O Deh, and Brong Goai. The policemen then forced the villagers to renounce Christianity and forbade them to celebrate Christmas and Vietnamese officers demanded/forced the villagers to go back to the traditional, tribal animist religion. The policemen summoned for the church leaders on Mondays and Thursdays preventing the villagers to tend their crops.

• In Nglom Thung village here was 8 stationed policemen who specifically warned the villagers not celebrate Christmas this year. The 8 policemen did not bring their own food but commandeered four families in the village to quarter them and provide them with food while they harassed and intimidated all the villagers. Some of villagers who were made to quarter the Vietnamese officers are Huit, Than, Blek and Huen (all from Nglom Thung village, Ia Pet commune, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai Province).
  

THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATIONS CALLS ON:

• The United States government and the European Union to review their trade and aid implications with Vietnam and withdrawal such aid and monetary benefits until such a time as Vietnam releases all Montagnard prisoners and ceases persecuting the Montagnard Degar people.

• The international community to urge Vietnam to immediately release Montagnard Prisoners who have been imprisoned for practicing Christianity, for participation in peaceful protests, or for attempting to flee to Cambodia.

• The international community to urge Vietnam to abide by the 2002 Concluding Observations of the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the “serious violations” facing the Montagnard peoples (UN doc: CCPR/C/SR.2031) and that Vietnam allow human rights monitors access to the central highlands.

Unless urgent action is taken many more Montagnards are going to suffer and die and eventually Degar race will be wiped out from the face of this earth.