11 YEAR OLD MONTAGNARD GIRL RAPED BY VIETNAMESE SOLDIER NAMED “HUNG” & MONTAGNARD DEGAR CHRISTIANS ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED

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. To date over 350 Degar prisoners remain in Vietnamese prisons for standing up for their human rights, for spreading Christianity or for fleeing to Cambodia. Vietnamese soldiers continue with a campaign of repression against the Montagnard Degar population and villages throughout the central highlands are subjected to occupation and brutal harassment from security police and soldiers. The information below was received direct from the Central Highlands.

 

 

ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED FOR POSSESSING A CELL PHONE:

December 18, 2006 at approximately 7 am, Vietnamese security police (Cong An) from the district of Dakdoa province of Gialai surrounded the village of Ploi T’Lieo, commune of Xa K’dang, in Dak Doa District. The Cong An police searched the village and arrested a man named Yic. They confiscated his cell phone and took him to an unknown prison. Yic, born in 1960, from the Village of Ploi H’Luk, commune Xa K’dang,  district Dak Doa, Gia Lai province.  It is feared he will be tortured like so many others who are arrested.  

11 YEAR OLD MONTAGNARD GIRL ABDUCTED & RAPED

November 11, 2006, about 8pm, Siu H’Grap a 11 year old girl (born in 1995, from the village of Ploi Wel, Commune Ia Ko, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai) spend the night at the home of H’Jut in her village. During the night Siu H’Grap went outside to use the restroom and was abducted by a Vietnamese soldier name Hung where she was held captive and raped. Siu H’Grap was released and immediately returned to the house in a state of extreme distress. The villagers only know the rapist as a soldier named “Hung” and that he was part of a group of soldiers who had been assigned to watch over the Commune of Ia Ko. The girl Siu H’Grap is currently suffering extreme emotional distress and may need medical assistance.

 

HOUSE CHURCH MEMBERS ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED

November 17, 2006 Vietnamese security forces conducted raids on villages and arrested a number of Montagnard Degar people in Cu Se District. The reasons for their arrests are because these Degar Montagnards are house church Christians. Their details are as follows:  

 

1. Kpa Be, born 1957, from the village of Tung Dang Ning, Commune Ia Hru, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested Kpa Be from his house and his whereabouts is unknown. 


2. Siu Djih, born 1954, from the village of Tung Kro A, Commune Ia Hru, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested Siu Djih from his home and his whereabouts is unknown. 


3. Siu Doan, born 1980, from the village of Tung Creh, Commune Ia Greng, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested Siu Doan from his home and his whereabouts is unknown. 


4. Siu Gri, born 1985, from the village of Tung Dang Ning, Commune Ia Hru, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested Siu Gri from his home and his whereabouts is unknown. 


5. Siu Djup, born 1954, from the village of Tung Mo A, Commune Ia Greng, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested Siu Djup from his home and his whereabouts is unknown.  


6. Siu U, born 1983, from the village of Ken San, Commune Ia Ale, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested Siu U while he was fishing during the evening and took him to T- 20 prison in Plei Ku. 


7. R’com Hnhol, born in 1984, from the Village of Lop, Commune Ia Ale, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested R’com Hnhol while he was fishing and took him to T-20 prison in Plei Ku. 


8. K’pa Hnen, born in 1960, from the village of Bet Tel, Commune Ia Hru, District Cu Se, Province Gia Lai. The Vietnamese police arrested K’pa Hnen at around 8 am, while he was working in coffee fields, and his whereabouts is unknown.

THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION CALLS ON:

• Concerned Embassies and the international community to urgently investigate the rape of Siu H’Grap, the 11 year old girl and ensures she receives urgent medical attention as well as impress upon Vietnamese authorities to appropriately investigate this crime.


• Concerned Embassies and the international community to urgently investigate details of the arrests reported here and ensure these prisoners are not tortured whilst in custody.


• Concerned Embassies and the international community to urgently demand Vietnam release these prisoners reported here as well as all 350 Degar Prisoners as identified in the Human Rights Watch report of 14 June 2006. http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/14/vietna13542.htm


• Concerned Embassies and the international community to pursue a permanent humanitarian presence in the Central Highlands by US, UN and international NGOs in order to address the underlying causes of the persecution of the indigenous Montagnard Degar peoples.