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6 February, 2007
 
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Montagnard Foundation welcomes US State Department’s news of no abuse of refugees in the Central Highlands and appeals for 350 Degar prisoners to now be released before more die in captivity

BACKGROUND: The indigenous Degar Peoples (also known under the French colonial term “Montagnard”) 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 and some have died in custody already from torture and lack of medical treatment.

 

 

THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION RESPONDS: to the 5 February 2007 news report published by the Associated Press titled “U.S. official finds no abuse of refugees in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The Montagnard Foundation states that the news in this article indicating that the Central Highlands is opening to the international community is long awaited good news and we sincerely thank US Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey for visiting the seven returned refugees. The Montagnard Foundation is thankful for the diplomatic efforts made on their behalf and is grateful that human rights dialogue between the United States and Vietnam is progressing. The Montagnard Foundation states that it is now even more important than ever for the release of Degar Montagnard prisoners namely the 350 Degar Prisoners identified in the Human Rights Watch report of 14 June 2006. The 350 Degar prisoners are all in custody for non-violent activities related to human rights issues of indigenous land rights and religious freedom.

 

President of the Montagnard Foundation states: “Many of the 350 Degar Montagnard prisoners currently suffering in Vietnam’s prisons were imprisoned for the exact same reasons as the seven returnees that Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey just visited. Thus, there is no reason to keep the 350 prisoners incarcerated any longer and it is noted these prisoners have not committed crimes of violence and would not be imprisoned if they lived in free democratic societies. Vietnam as a new member of the WTO should show compassion for its indigenous people according to internationally recognized standards of human rights and should release our 350 Christian brothers and sisters from prison immediately.”

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DEGAR MONTAGNARD PRISONERS SEE:

 

 

U.S. official finds no abuse of refugees in Vietnam's Central Highlands.

The Associated Press - Published: February 5, 2007

HANOI, Vietnam: A U.S. official praised Vietnam on Monday for improving its record on human rights and religious freedom, traditionally a contentious subject between the two nations.

Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey visited the restive Central Highlands, the scene of protests in recent years over land rights and religious issues. The region is home to ethnic minority hill tribes, collectively called Montagnards, many of whom are Christians that belong to churches not recognized by the Vietnamese government.

After violent protests in 2004, several hundred people fled to neighboring Cambodia. Some were later denied refugee status and forced to return to Vietnam, while others went home voluntarily.

Some international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have charged that many of those who returned were harassed, jailed or beaten.

Sauerbrey said she visited with seven refugees who had returned from Cambodia, and none said they had been mistreated by local officials after coming home. She said that no Vietnamese government officials were present for the interviews, and she chose the interviewees herself, without consulting local authorities". All indicated that there had been no punishment," said Sauerbrey, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. "Those we had the opportunity to speak with seemed happy to be home."

Sauerbrey said many refugees had apparently left the region for economic reasons, and she encouraged the government to provide more jobs to help solve the refugee problem.

"They don't see a positive future in the Highlands," she said.

She praised Hanoi for allowing representatives of the U.S., the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and European diplomats to visit the region and investigate conditions firsthand.

"Most importantly, the government of Vietnam is opening the door so that there can be frequent visits," Sauerbrey said.

Relations between Hanoi and the Montagnards have traditionally been tense, because many people in the Central Highlands sided with the United States during the Vietnam War.
 
 
  

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