MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION APPEALS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF VIETNAM

The Montagnard Foundation appeals to the US Government and US Congress on behalf of the Degar Montagnard people of Vietnam 's Central Highlands to consider the future of the Montagnard Degar people. We ask that basic human rights for our people (and all citizens of Vietnam) are remembered and that the US government; urge Vietnam to release all of our 350 Degar Prisoners identified in the 14 June 2006 Human Rights Watch report, that a permanent humanitarian presence in the Central Highlands is pursued and that human rights and religious freedom conditions are directly linked to the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Vietnam.

The Central Highlands remains isolated from the rest of Vietnam and authorities commit ongoing human rights violations there against our indigenous people such as the following: 13 July 2006 the police in Dak Lak province tortured to death a Montagnard Degar Christian in police station and on 14 June 2006 Vietnamese authorities arrested the wife of a UNHCR returnee. For details of the appeal and details/photographs of the victims see the following:

 

APPEAL BY THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF THE DEGAR MONTAGNARD PEOPLE IN VIETNAM 'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

 

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 July 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 unjustly remain in Vietnamese prisons and repression - arrests, torture and killings of Montagnards continues.

The Montagnard Foundation on behalf of the indigenous Degar Montagnard People inside Vietnam's Central Highlands, issue this statement and appeal: In recent months during 2006 there has been several spontaneous gatherings of large numbers of Montagnard (Degar) people in Vietnam's Central Highlands. These gatherings can be described as peaceful protests by several thousand people in various districts in the Central Highlands against the continued repression by the Vietnamese authorities. These protests have been reported by the Montagnard Foundation and details are available on our website. The Montagnard Foundation states that these protests are a “cry to the outside world” by the Degar people to protect their human rights. The Montagnard Foundation states the people inside Vietnam report they cannot just allow themselves to suffer continued abuse and thus it is feared more protests will occur as Vietnam shows no signs of ceasing persecution against them. It is noted that large scale protests in 2001 and on Easter 2004 resulted in a military crackdown by Vietnamese authorities where untold numbers of Degar people were injured and killed. The Montagnard Foundation states the Degar people do not want to overthrow the government of Vietnam and would not conduct such protests if the Vietnamese government respected their human rights and treated them as equal citizens. The Montagnard Foundation also clearly rejects claims the Degar people seek an independent state.

In conclusion the Montagnard Foundation seeks a peaceful solution to the problems facing our people and on behalf of the Degar Montagnard people inside Vietnam we relay their cry to the world. We ask that the United States and international community diplomatically act as a broker of peace with Vietnam by ensuring Vietnam ceases persecution of the Degar Montagnard people. We believe the United States has a special relationship with the Montagnard Degar people as our people served as allies to the United States during the Vietnam War and we pray that our people's plight is part of the ongoing trade, diplomatic and defense negotiations with Vietnam and the US .

Specifically we ask the United States Congress and US Government to consider the future of the Montagnard Degar people. All we ask that basic human rights for our people (and all citizens of Vietnam ) are remembered and namely that the US government:

• Urge Vietnam to release all 350 Degar Prisoners identified in the 14 June 2006 Human Rights Watch report: http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/14/vietna13542.htm
  


• Urge the US government to continually pursue a permanent humanitarian presence in the Central Highlands of Vietnam US, UN, international agencies and international NGOs.
  


• The United States Congress to insist human rights conditions are directly linked to the US granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations status with Vietnam.

We are not asking the United States to abandon relations with Vietnam and we do not want progress between US and Vietnam to be stifled however, we ask that our people's sacrifice during the Vietnam War be remembered. We know the world of politics and world trade is complex but we cry out in desperation to you in order that you may help our race of people.

Sincerely and God Bless,

Kok Ksor
President of the Montagnard Foundation