VIETNAMESE SECURITY FORCES MOBILIZE IN MONTAGNARD DEGAR VILLAGES: REPRESSION INCREASES AS 300 DEGARS FLEE TO CAMBODIAN BORDER

 

BACKGROUND: The indigenous Montagnard Degar Peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the government of Vietnam, namely; confiscation of their ancestral lands, Christian religious repression, torture, killings and imprisonment. In May 2006 the US State Department has continued to maintain Vietnam on the “watch list” of countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom. To date over 350 Degar prisoners remain in Vietnamese prisons for charges involving merely standing up for human rights, for spreading Christianity or for fleeing to Cambodia. Vietnamese soldiers continue with a campaign of brutal repression searching villages for cell phones while Degar lands are confiscated. 300 Degars have escaped thus far to Cambodia. The information below is a report on increased military operations received direct from the Central Highlands.

May 29, 2006 the Vietnamese military commenced the excavation of tunnels at the mountain of Cu Ming and Cu Da to store ammunition, arms and various military equipments. The villagers in the surrounding area were forcibly restricted from leaving or entering their villages.

May 28, 2006 approximately 100 Vietnamese soldiers and police commenced operations at the village of Buon Jun Yuh searching for 300 Degar villagers from this village and the village of Buon U who had recently escaped across the border to Cambodia . Our sources in the region informed us the 300 villagers fled because of brutality imposed on them by security forces, namely harassment, arrests and torture. The security forces have forcibly restricted the Degar villagers in the area from leaving their village, preventing them from attending to their farms.

May 12, 2006 approximately 250 Vietnamese soldiers, from Quan Khu 5 commenced operations near the village of Buon Dak Ndrung in DakNong Province in order to repress the Degar Montagnards in the area. The soldiers conducted sweeping operations searching for anyone with a cell phone. The soldiers also threatened the villagers against carrying out a peaceful demonstration in the area against government policy permitting authorities to confiscate their farmland in the area and give it to Vietnamese new settlers.

May 12, 2006 approximately 70 police commenced operations at the village of Dak Rteh , commune Dak Rteh, Budap District, Daknong Province . The police commenced sweeping operations searching for Degars who have cell phones and to restrict Degar villagers from entering or leaving their villages, including working on their farms.

April 28, 2006 the Vietnamese military moved various ground to air defense weapons, anti-tank weapons and artillery to Cu Don Mountain . Stationed also there was one brigade of soldiers who were heavily armed. It is unknown for exactly what purpose these activities were conducted for.

On April 25, 2006 approximately 70 police commenced operations at the village of Buon Cuor Hdang , Cu Mgar District, Daklak Province . The police commenced sweeping operations searching for Degars who have cell phones and to restrict Degar villagers from entering or leaving their villages, including working on their farms.

On April 20, 2006 approximately 40 police commenced operations at the village of Buon Dha Prong , Buonmathuot City , Daklak Province . The police commenced sweeping operations searching for Degars who have cell phones and to restrict Degar villagers from entering or leaving their villages, including working on their farms.

April 20, 2006 approximately 25 police commenced operations at the village of Buon Sut Hluot , Cu Mgar District, Daklak Province . The police commenced sweeping operations searching for Degars who have cell phones and to restrict Degar villagers from entering or leaving their villages, including working on their farms.

 

THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION CALLS ON CONCERNED EMBASSIES IN VIETNAM AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO:

• Urgently raise this issue with authorities in Vietnam in order to prevent an escalation of violence in the region.
  


• Urgently taken necessary steps with the UNHCR, the Cambodian and Vietnamese government to ensure the 300 asylum seekers are protected according to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
  


• Urgently pursue a permanent humanitarian presence in the Central Highlands monitor the human rights situation by UN and international agencies and international NGOs.