VIETNAMESE SECURITY FORCES ARREST MONTAGNARD DEGAR STUDENTS FOR LISTENING TO MUSICAL CASSETTES FROM THE UNITED STATES: FORCED TO INHALE CHEMICAL MACE

 

BACKGROUND: The indigenous Montagnard Degar Peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the Vietnamese communist government, 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 standing up for their human rights, for spreading Christianity or for fleeing to Cambodia . Vietnamese soldiers continue with a campaign of repression. The information below was received direct from the Central Highlands .

 

VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES DISCOVER DEGAR STUDENTS ARE LISTENING TO MUSICAL TAPES FROM THE UNITED STATES:

Vietnamese authorities in Buonmathuot City have arrested, tortured and imprisoned 11 Degar Montagnard students who attend the University of Ama Mtrang Long , University of Cao Ngyuen and the Technical school of Buonmathuot . Authorities accused the students of listening to musical cassettes sent to them by their relatives in the United States . In March 2006, two Montagnards residing in the United States named Y-Nuec Eban and Y-Dhin Kbuor had sent musical tapes of folk songs and guitar music to their relatives who live at the village of Buon Tong Ju and Buon Cuor Knia. Many young Degars Montagnards had enjoyed listening to songs on the tapes so they reproduced them and gave them to other young people at University. 

VIETNAMESE POLICE ARREST, TORTURE STUDENTS:

V ietnamese authorities heard of these tapes sent from the United States and on April 20, 2006 the police arrested and tortured the following 11 Degar students: The police arrested them and commenced torturing them by punching, kicking, beating with sticks and batons. The police also sprayed chemical agent of some kind on their face and eyes. The Police even forced them to inhale the chemical powder during the interrogation, which resulted in severe internal pain. The police interrogated the students demanding to know where the tapes came from and threatened them not let other students listen to the tapes. All were released after two weeks except one. The students all reported suffering injuries from the physical beatings as well as suffering respiratory problems from inhaling the toxic chemical agent. The chemical is believed to be a chemical toxic form of mace. The details of the students who were arrested are as follows:

1. Y-No Buonkrong, ( age 22) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
2. Y-Bhec Mlo , (age 26) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
3. Y-Drim Kbuor, (age 27) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
4. Ama Sum , from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
5. Y-Cuan Adrong from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
6. Y-Niang Buonkrong , (age 39) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
7. Y-Bhi Buonkrong , (age 44) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
8. Y-Hlu Adrong , from Buon Kmrong Prong village, Buonmathuot City , Daklak Province .
9. Y-Tuan, (age 37) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .
10. Y-Phuen Nie , (age 22) from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province .

MISSING AFTER BEING BEATEN AND ARRESTED

1. Y-Hor Mlo, from Buon Cuor Knia village, Buon Don District, Daklak Province . He was attending the Technical School of Buonmathuot when he was arrested on April 20, 2006 and has not been heard of since. His family remains extremely distressed as he was beaten when arrested and his whereabouts and state of health is unknown.

 

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

• Urgently raise this issue with authorities in Vietnam to get Y- Hor Mlo released from prison and that all those arrested students are given medical attention.
  


• Urgently pressure Vietnam to release all of the estimated 350 Degar Prisoners from Vietnamese prisons.
  


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