The Montagnard Foundation and the indigenous Degar Montagnard People makes this appeal to the international community in order to peacefully resolve the human rights situation facing the Montagnard in Vietnam 's Central Highlands. The Montagnard Foundation calls on the United States , the European Commission, the United Nations and Vietnam 's donor nations to pressure Vietnam to:

1. OPEN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TO INTERNATIONAL MONITORS

Since Vietnam and the United States are currently engaged in trade agreements and discussing strategic partnerships for defense, there is now no reason for the Vietnamese government to view the Degar Montagnard people as an enemy because of Montagnard support to the US Armed Forces during the Vietnam War.

2. WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Since Cambodia and Laos are allies of Vietnam and all the Degar Montagnard refugees in Cambodia have been forcibly repatriated, there is no longer any reason for the Vietnamese military to continue to occupy the Central Highlands. Currently the Vietnamese government views the ethnic Degar Montagnard people as their worse enemy. We request that the soldiers and Cong An security forces desist in security operations and withdraw their soldiers from the Central Highlands . The Degar Montagnard people only desire to be treated as equal citizens in Vietnam .

3. RELEASE ALL DEGAR MONTAGNARD PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Since the Vietnamese government claims it does not harm the Degar Montagnard refugees who have been forcibly repatriated to Vietnam from Cambodia , there is no longer any reason for Vietnam to keep other Degar Montagnard people in prison. We request the government of Vietnam release all Degar Montagnard prisoners who have been arrested and imprisoned since the Montagnard peaceful demonstration of 2001.

All of the indigenous Degar Montagnard prisoners who are listed below have been tortured and imprisoned not because they are terrorists or wanted to overthrow the government of Vietnam or wanted an independent state but simply because they dared to stand up and ask for the respect of their basic human rights, indigenous land rights and religious freedom. We humbly ask all of Vietnam 's donors to not empower Vietnam with aid money unless the persecution against the Montagnards ceases.

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GRAND TOTAL: 384

There are more of our people have been arrested and imprisoned but we just could not get all of their names because the Central Highlands has been closed to the world.  

GRAND TOTAL OF DEGAR PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED FROM ALL PROVINCES IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM EXCEPT DALAT PROVINCE THAT WE (MFI) KNOW IS: 384

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NAMES WITH PHOTO: 141

NAMES WITHOUT PHOTO: 210

HAVE BEEN RELEASED: 33

STILL LEFT IN PRISON: 351

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NEWEST ARREST IN THE MONTH OF MARCH OF 2006

Beaten Unconscious for Refusing to join the Official Government Church  

1 - On March 2, 2006 the Vietnamese government committee from Ia Ko commune summoned our Christian Brother Siu Phon, (age 46, from the village of Plei Sur ) to meet with them at their commune office. The authorities initially spoke kindly to him about why he refused to join the official government recognized church but then took him to the police station at Cu Se district in Gialai province. There the police tortured Siu Phon by repeatedly punching and kicking him until he lost control of his bowels and he collapsed unconscious on the prison floor covered in his own excrement. Siu Phon had refused to abandon Christianity and refused to join the church that is recognized by the government. He is now imprisoned at the prison facility in Cu Se district and the condition of his health is unknown.

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Arrested for refusing to join the Official Government Church

2 - On March 5, 2006 the Vietnamese government committee from Ia Ko commune summoned our Christian Brother, Siu Thit (age 43, from the village of Plei Sur ) to meet with them at their commune office. He attended the meeting with his wife and when they arrived at the commune office he was arrested by police for refusing to join the official government recognized Church. The police took him to the police station at Cu Se district in Gialai province and sent his wife away. It is unknown what has happened to Siu Thit at this time but it is feared he was tortured like Siu Phon above. He is now imprisoned at the prison facility in Cu Se district and the condition of his health is unknown.

(These two prisoners have not been added to the prisoners' number of this updated list)

THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AS THE INFORMATION COMES IN.

Please select links below to read the names of Degar prisoners on each province:

Complete report in PDF format