MONTAGNARD CHRISTIANS FORCIBLY REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM BY UNHCR HAVE BEEN RE-ARRESTED

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“He was already tortured before he escaped and we know he will be tortured worse or even killed if he is re-captured. We ask the US Government and international community to contact us and facilitate his safe return so we can prevent him from being tortured or killed.” Kok Ksor

BACKGROUND: The indigenous Montagnards (Degar) Peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the government of Vietnam , namely; confiscation of their ancestral lands, religious repression, torture, killings and imprisonment and Vietnam still remains on the US State Department's watch list for religious persecution. Hundreds of Montagnard asylum seekers who fled persecution in Vietnam have been forcibly returned to Vietnam and some like the group of six below were forcibly returned with co-operation of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). It is noted White House Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli voiced strong objections to such involuntary repatriations on 20 July 2005 before an internationally-staffed monitoring program was in place in the Central Highlands of Vietnam .

 

The following report was received direct from our people inside Vietnam on Six Montagnards who were forcibly deported to Vietnam by the UNHCR on 9 September 2005 . Three of them been arrested and imprisoned but one has escaped and is currently on the run after being savagely beaten. Details below:  

1. Rcom Gliu age 27, from village Plei Del , commune Ia To, district Ia Grai, province Gialai.
2. Siu Ban age 29, from village Plei Nu, commune Ia Nang, district Duk Ko, province Gialai
3. Rahlan Hin age 36, from village Plei Can, commune Ia Ponon, district Duk Ko, province Gialai
4. Hyao Ka age 26, from village Plei Ke, town Phu Thien, province Gialai
5. Hyao Peng age 47, from village Plei Mang, town Phu Thien, province Gialai
6. Siu Su age 30, from village Plei Mlan, commune Ia Ke, district Ayun Pa , province Gialai

 

TORTURE AND ESCAPE: On 23 November 2005 Vietnamese police arrested Rcom Gliu (No 1 above) : At around 8am he was arrested and taken to Ia To Commune for interrogation. Police asked him the following questions.  

Question: Why do you follow the Degar Church ? You must stop following Degar Church .

He answered: “I will not stop following Degar Church because I want to believe the True God not the human being or government religion.

Question : Why did you run to Cambodia ?

He answered: I ran to Cambodia for my life because I fear being arrested, tortured, imprisoned and murdered like what your government has been doing to our people since 1975.

Question: Why you did not want to come back and live with Vietnam Government?

He answered: How can you live with someone who wants to kill you?

The police became enraged with his answers stating: “You really are a hard headed person” and started beating and kicking him with their hands, feet and batons. They repeated beat and kicked him for several hours. At midday the police wanted to go for lunch and hand cuffed Rcom Gliu's to a table leg. This is where he managed to escape and he is currently hiding now in the jungles at a secret location.

ARRESTED AND WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN: Hyao Peng (No. 5 above) was arrested at around 9am on 26 November 2005 . He was taken to the prison in Ceo Reo Town. His family has been extremely distressed because police refuse to provide any information on his welfare or whereabouts.

ARRESTED AND WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN: Siu Su (No. 6 above) was arrested at around 9am on November 28, 2005 . He was taken to prison in Ceo Reo Town. His family has been extremely distressed because police refuse to provide any information on his welfare or whereabouts.

Inside Vietnam today the Montagnard Degar people in the Central Highlands believe the Vietnamese government will break its promises to the international community and brutally punish all Montagnard returnees. Therefore, the Montagnard Foundation relays this appeal on behalf of our people to Vietnam 's donor countries not to give Vietnam aid money or allow Vietnam to join WTO until Vietnam fully respects international law and human rights.

WE HUMBLY ASK:  

1. That urgent action is taken by the US Government to protect the life of the escaped Montagnard returnee Rcom Gliu before he is re-arrested and killed and to protect the welfare of Hyao Peng and Siu Su in custody and prevent the other three prisoners in this press release (Siu Ban, Rahlan Hin and Hyao Ka) from being persecuted. The Montagnard Foundation can be contacted so we can facilitate his safe return with international monitors present.
   
   
2. That Vietnam 's donor countries continually negotiate with Vietnam for the opening of the Central Highlands to the International community to seek a permanent monitoring system in the area.
   
   
3. That Vietnam 's donor countries negotiate with Vietnam for the release of all Montagnard prisoners of conscience including over 300 Montagnards (list of names on our website).
   
   
4. That Vietnam's donor countries negotiate with Vietnam to withdraw all of its security forces from the Central Highlands and seek with Vietnam a permanent solution to the Montagnard issue, namely negotiating a forum to address the underlining issues facing our people's survival, based on international accepted standards of indigenous land rights civil and political rights and religious freedom.  

 

I believe if Vietnam respects our people's rights and releases our prisoners this will help heal the wounds of war and bring our people together to live in peace with mutual respect of each others' rights. It will also be a sign that the Vietnamese government is willing to consider Degar Montagnard people as its true citizen so we can live together as one people and one nation. Kok Ksor