Montagnards: Saigon Keeps Its Head in the Sand

ICC Note:

Despite constitutional a governmental claims of religious freedom in Vietnam, the indigenous Montagnards are consistently being imprisoned, starved, tortured and killed throughout their homeland.

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3/5/08 Vietnam (UNPO) Below is an article published by the Jubilee Campaign:

Several delegates from the government of Vietnam‘s Central Highlands area sat across the table from a Jubilee Campaign staff member. When these delegates were presented with evidence of recent religious persecution – including the case of Kpa Kloh, who died Feb. 10, 2008, after extreme torture for his religious beliefs – these officials repeated, “There is religious freedom in Vietnam.”

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An indigenous people of Vietnam‘s Central Highlands, the Montagnards are also called Degars. Their presence actually pre-dates the current government. Their significant history in that area of Vietnam should establish their rights as full citizens of Vietnam, but instead they are experiencing persecution at the hands of government officials.

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The Vietnamese constitution does guarantee freedom of religion. Some Vietnamese Christians and those of other faith are allowed to worship.

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However, against this backdrop of constitutional provisions and assurance of delegates is a trail of tears – the report of one Montagnard after another who has been brutally tortured for his faith.

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In addition to torture, the officials use other tactics. In January 2008, two prayer meetings were disrupted, and at one of them, in the Dak Ha district, four of the prayer meeting participants were beaten by the officials. Nine families in the Kontum province experienced significant loss when officials took away a total of sixty cows. The families were told they could renounce a religious practice to get their cows back. Others have experienced interrogation and poisoning. They are also sometimes denied land rights – which is especially important because land is often their source of livelihood.

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