MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION, INC.

Dedicated to the Preservation of the Indigenous Peoples of Central Vietnam

P.O. BOX 171114, SPARTANBURG, SC 29301-0101, USA

Phone: (864) 576 – 0698             Fax: (864) 595 - 1940

E-mail: kksor@montagnard-foundation.org

Web Site: http://www.montagnard-foundation.org

 

 

SITUATION UPDATE - 21 APRIL 2004 - GIA LAI PROVINCE ONLY

 

MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED VICTIMS LISTED – NEW AND DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EASTER REPRESSION

 

 

 

MFI Update of 21 April 2004. Information from the Central Highlands is still coming. Ten days after the first demonstration staged in Vietnam's Central Highlands on 10 April 2004 that triggered a bloody reaction of Vietnamese authorities, the region remains sealed off. Hanoi has played down the brutality and seriousness of the situation and refuses journalists and monitors from having access to the region in order to carry out further repression and prevent the extent of the repression reaching the international media.

 

An article in the AFP on 20 April 2004 stated "The EU called on the authorities to fully respect international human rights standards in their longer-term response to the protests of Easter weekend and to allow peaceful demonstrations to take place," it said "Furthermore, the EU requested the authorities to investigate the grievances of the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands, to address them and to respect their freedom of religion." While the AP also reported on 20 April 2004 that “Cambodian police arrested and deported 160 members of a Vietnamese ethnic minority who crossed the border illegally to escape violence in their country last week…” 

 

Human Rights Watch in its 14 April 2004 report on the crisis stating: "The human rights situation for Montagnards in the Central Highlands has plummeted to a new low," said Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch. "Vietnam's policy of repression of Montagnard Christians is only fueling the unrest."

 

The following report has been compiled on 20 April 2004, by the U.S.-based Montagnard Foundation Inc. and is based on information received directly via phone in conversations with people in the Central Highlands. On the basis of the figures gathered by MFI, there is an immediate need for action to document with photographic evidence taken from satellites the instances presented below, as the dimensions of the repression are becoming of extraordinary proportions and international concern according to the Geneva conventions on genocide.

 

UPDATE SITUATION SO FAR IN GIA LAI PROVINCE

 

DEGARS WHO WERE MURDERED

 

1.       Tol, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Kluh, commune of Ia Tiem, district of Cu Se, province of Gialai.  Tol, was killed by the Vietnamese civilians.  Our eyewitness said that the Vietnamese civilians held him, poked both of his eyes and then beat him until dead.  Tol was killed on April 10, 2004.

 

2.       Hnun, (age unknown) the police executed him by shooting him on the head. He is from the village of Plei Ring, commune of Ha Bau, district of Dak Doa, province of Gialai and he was killed on April 10, 2004.

 

3.       Siu Plen, (age 33), because of participating in the peaceful demonstration, the police arrested, handcuffed him and then gave to the Vietnamese civilians and students beat him up until his skull was broken open and he died.  Siu Plen is from the village of Bon Ama Djong, commune of Phu Hoa, district of Ayunpa, province of Gialai.

 

4.       Ksor Jo, (age 33), because of participating in the peaceful demonstration, the police arrested, handcuffed him and then handed him to the Vietnamese civilians and students tortured him by beating and took his own shirt strangled him until dead outside of the police office at the commune of Ia Sao.  Ksor Jo is from the village of Bon Hoang, commune of Ia Sao, district of Ayunpa, province of Gialai.

 

DEGAR WHO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED

 

5.       H’Kroih, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Djrong, commune of A Dok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police shot both of her legs which are now broken and the hospital also refused to treat her.

 

6.       Ngun, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Piong, commune of A Dok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai. The police shot and broke his left leg.  The hospital also refused to treat him.

 

7.       Klun, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Hdok, commune of A Dok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai. The police shot and broke his left leg.  The hospital also refused to treat him.

 

8.       Krai, (age 20), from the village of Plei Sao, commune of Habau, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai, TRP # 31.  He is seriously hurt from the beating but now he is laying at his home for recovery.

 

9.       Hlu, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Dup, commune of Habau, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He is seriously hurt from the beating but he is now laying in his home for recovery.

 

10.   Hiot, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Hol, commune of Habau, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He is seriously hurt by the beating but he is now laying at his home for recovery.

 

11.   Nung, (age 35) from the village of Plei Kueng Grai, commune of Habau, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai TRP # 130.  He is seriously hurt by the beating but he is now laying at his home for recovery.

 

12.   Blai, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Phun, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gialai.  The police beat him and broke one of his legs and an arm.  He is now laying at his home because the hospital refused to treat him.

 

13.   Nar, (age 22) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gialai.  He is now in the hospital handcuffed to the bed suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refuses to treat him.

 

14.   Anum, (age 47) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gialai. He is now in the hospital with handcuffed and suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refuses to treat him.

 

15.   Co, (age 24) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gialai. He is now in the hospital with handcuffs, suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refused to treat him.

 

16.   Hen, (age 29) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gialai. He is now in the hospital with handcuffs, suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refuses to treat him.  They believed that his skull was broken.

 

17.   Tui, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He is now in the hospital with handcuffs, suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refuses to treat him.

 

18.   Bo, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He is now in the hospital with handcuffs, suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refuses to treat him.

 

19.   Loi, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He is now in the hospital with handcuffs, suffering from the severe beating of the police but the hospital refuses to treat him.

 

DEGAR PEOPLE WHO ARE INJURED OR ARRESTED AND DISAPPEARED - POSSIBLY KILLED

 

20.   Pin, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He was seriously injured but now disappeared.

 

21.   Djum, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He was seriously injured but now disappeared.

 

22.   Kuk, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He was seriously injured but now disappeared.

 

23.   Ayui, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Bong Lar, commune of Ia Bang, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  He was seriously injured but now disappeared.

 

DEGAR PEOPLE WHO WERE ABDUCTED AT NIGHT AND DISAPPEARED

 

24.   Wung, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

25.   Bing, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

26.   Biung, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

27.   Som, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

28.   Dum, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

29.   Dat, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

30.   Hun, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Biatih, commune of Adok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

31.   Ron, (age28) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gailai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

32.   Jop, (age 19) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gailai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

33.   Wun, (age 24) from the village of Plei Do, commune of Cu A, district of Pleiku city, province of Gailai.  The police abducted at night and his whereabouts unknown.

 

34.   Myut, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Dup, commune of Habau, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  During the demonstration the police beat him and took him away. He has not since come back and his whereabouts unknown.

 

35.   Bo, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Nglom Thung, commune of Ia Pet, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai. During the demonstration the police beat him and took him away. He never come back and his whereabouts unknown.

 

36.   Nat, (age unknown) from the village of Hdok, commune of A-Dok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai. During the demonstration the police beat him and took him away. He never came back and his whereabouts unknown.

 

37.   There are 43 Degars who demonstrated at the communal village of Ia Tiem, district of Cu Se, province of Gialai, the police beat them up and took them away. Currently no one now knows where they are.  We believe they all have been murdered.

 

 

 

DEGAR PEOPLE WOMEN WERE RAPED DURING THE DEMONSTRATION

 

38.   H’Hlon, (age20) from the village of Plei Djrong, commune of A-Dok, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  20 Vietnamese soldiers raped her at gun point and took her away . She has still not returned to her village.

 

39.   R’com H’Ngin, (age unknown) from the village of Plei Kac, commune of Cu Pah, district of Dakdoa, province of Gialai.  On April 9, 2004 twelve Vietnamese police went to R’com H’Ngin’s home around 12:00 o’clock midnight, abducted her and raped her until she passed out and brought her back home on April 12, 2004.

 

DESTRUCTION OF DEGAR PEOPLE’S HOMES

 

13 houses in the village of Plei Nu, commune Ia Tiem, district Cu Se, province Gialai, were destroyed by Vietnamese police.  All the families and children have no place to live.

 

One House of Degar man named Byin at village Plei Bia Tih, commune A-Dok, district of Dakdoa, province Gialai, was destroyed by police and he and his family have no place to live.

 

DEGARS WHO FLED INTO HIDING.

 

Commune of Ia Bang

 

Commune of A-Dok

 

Commune of Ia Pet

 

Commune of Ia Tiem

 

VILLAGES OCCUPIED BY SOLDIERS 

 

Commune of Ia Bang

 

Commune of Ia Tiem

 

Commune of Ia Pet

 

Communal village of Go-Lar

 

 

 

URGENT INTERVENTION IS NEEDED TO AVIOD A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

 

Before long, our people who are hiding in these above 4 villages (and other areas) will starve to death or end up captured or killed by the Vietnamese soldiers.  Our refugees cannot cross the Cambodian border because it is closed and we fear that hundred if not thousands of our people are hiding in fear for their lives. 

 

On there behalf, I am pleading to the international community to intervene and help our people or they will die. International monitors and humanitarian aid is urgently needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis from occurring in the Central Highlands.

 

This report will be updated as the information is received.