Vietnamese government authorities continued detaining, interrogating and threatening Degar Montagnard Christians during the recent holiday period. However, due
to the tight controls imposed by Vietnamese security forces in the Central Highlands the information below has only recently been received. Repression of so called “illegal” unregistered house-churches has long been part of Vietnamese policy and the incidents below are not exhaustive. This type of repression affected Christians at multiple villages in the Central Highlands. Five incidents are reported below:
The 15 Montagnard Christians (listed below) are all from the village of Plei Rbay, commune of Ia Piar, district of Ia Sol in the province of Gia Lai (Plei Ku city). Each was forced to report to the police commune office from 8:30am for four days.
1. Rmah Mlu
2. Siu HKyon
3. Ksor Lin
4. Siu HPen
5. Nay Suyr
6. Nay Phơt
7. Siu H’On
8. Nay Brô
9. Siu H’Moăh
10. Rmah Blen
11. Siu Phoar
12. Siu Yer
13. Rmah Nghiêm
14. Ksor Mieng
15. Nay H’ Moanh
The chief officer identified as Ngo Ngoc Canh stated “You do not belong with a sanctioned church organization. Do you know that the Hanoi government does not allow you to worship otherwise?” He further told that they could not celebrate or worship during Christmas. The Montagnard Christians stated that they did not want to join with Vietnam’s sanctioned church organization nor can they abandon worship service on Christmas. Then the police chief threatened them “if we find that you disobey, we will arrest you and put you in prison at the district.” Each was presented with a pledge to sign their names. For two days and nights on December 24 to 25, 2011, fourteen security forces were stationed at the village and the villagers were not allowed to leave their homes or worship in public.
INCIDENT III: On December 21, 2011 at approximately 8:00am 14 Christians were detained from three villages in Ia Mron commune for interrogation by security officials. The 14 Christians are listed below:
1. Nay Mun from Plei Rongol Hlin 2 village, commune Ia Mron, district Ia Pa, Gia Lai province.
2. Siu H’Lui
3. Siu Yun Plei Rongol Rin 1 village, commune Ia Mron, district Ia Pa, Gia Lai province.
4. Ksor H’Chron
5. Siu Yot
6. Siu Kung
7. Siu H’Le
8. Siu The
9. Rmah H’Djin
10. Siu Dot
11. Rmah H’Brak
12. Ksor H’Juai
13. Rcom H’Brin from Plei Rongol Rin 2 village, commune Ia Mron, Gia Lai province
14. Ksor H’Bi
The security forces who interrogated these Christians are identified as
1. Van dinh Nho (Chief)
2. Ksor Mer (security force)
3. Ro O But (security force)
4. Nguyen Van Duy (security force)
5. Rcom Khoa(security force)
6. Ksor Thuot (police)
7. (unidentified officer)
The security officer named Nguyen Van Duy threatened the villagers stating “do you know the reason you are here?” When the Christians responded that they did not know, he stated “You do not belong to a sanctioned church. You must belong with a church the government of Hanoi approves of and you can only attend the church belonging to Siu Kim, which is sanctioned. Therefore, on December 25, 2011, you cannot worship. If you do, we will arrest you and put you in jail.” The Montagnard Degar Christians then stated that they would continue to worship their true God; and that they did not want to follow the church of Siu Kim or any church that is under government interference. The villagers each had to sign pledges agreeing to this so they could be released. The Christians report however, that they continue to worship without being members of the government sanctioned church.
INCIDENT IV: On December 1, 2011 Vietnamese authorities banned Christmas prayer vigils and celebrations. The authorities detained four Degar Montagnard Christians at their police office from 8am. These Degar Montagnard Christians are from Buon Tham village, commune Ia Trok, Ia Pa district, Gia Lai province and their names are listed below.
1. Siu, Vi
2. Rmah, Hduon
3. Siu, Pre
4. Rcom, Nuin
The four security forces identified as Trung, Dat, Rim Nay and Pham Tung Trung interrogated the Christians. A security force named Pham Tung Trung asked “Do you know the reason you all have been summoned here?” The Christians responded stating they did not why and that they have not done anything wrong. Officer Pham Tung Trung replied “The government of Hanoi does not allow you to worship independently. You can only worship with a church Hanoi has approved of.” Then security officer told them that because they did not belong to a registered church, they must cancel prayer worship on December 25, 2011. The security forces also warned them that if they congregate for worship or have Christmas prayer vigil that day, the authorities will arrest them. The Christians were released at 11:30am and that on December 24 and 25, 2011 the security forces stood guard day and night in their village and prevented the villagers from having prayer services.
THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION CALLS ON:
The US State Department to seriously review their current policy about the state of Vietnam’s religious persecution and consider placing Vietnam back on the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ watch list as recommended by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Concerned Embassies, US State Department, European Commission, United Nations, Red Cross and other international humanitarian agencies demand Vietnam release and account for all the hundreds of Degar Montagnard prisoners imprisoned in Vietnam as reported by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and Human Rights Watch. : On December 20, 2011, security forces identified as Ma Ngoc Lam, Nguyen Van Khoi, and Ksor Dong detained the following six Christian leaders (below) from the village of Plei Chrung, commune of Ia Piar, district of Phu Thien at Gia Lai province at the police station.
1. Nay Kô
2. Nay Set
3. Nay Ket
4. Nay Tek
5. Siu Kham
6. Siu Tiêu.
Officer Ma Ngoc Lam threatened the six Christians stating “the government does not allow you to worship without being members of a sanctioned church organization. On this December 25, 2011, you are not to travel or gather in large crowd. If you do, we will come to arrest you and imprison you at Phu Thien district.” The security officers also stated further that “in 2012 you will not be allowed to gather for Christian worship.” At 11:30am, the security forces thrust pledges before them demanding they sign documents to agree to the above decrees. Out of fear the Christians signed the pledges and they were released. For a twenty-four hour period, on December 25, security forces remained stationed at their village preventing the villagers from having prayer vigils in their village.
INCIDENT II: In November 2011 security forces detained 15 Montagnard Christians at the commune office for four days from November 26-30, 2011. The five security forces are identified as:
1) Ngô Ngọc Cảnh-chief at commune of Ia Piar
2) Nguyễn Văn Khôi-security force from Ia Piar commune
3) Khải (last name unknown)-security force from Ia Piar commune.
4) Ksor Lâm-security force of Ia Piar commune
5) Siu Muôn-vice-chairman
The 15 Montagnard Christians (listed below) are all from the village of Plei Rbay, commune of Ia Piar, district of Ia Sol in the province of Gia Lai (Plei Ku city). Each was forced to report to the police commune office from 8:30am for four days.
1. Rmah Mlu
2. Siu HKyon
3. Ksor Lin
4. Siu HPen
5. Nay Suyr
6. Nay Phơt
7. Siu H’On
8. Nay Brô
9. Siu H’Moăh
10. Rmah Blen
11. Siu Phoar
12. Siu Yer
13. Rmah Nghiêm
14. Ksor Mieng
15. Nay H’ Moanh
The chief officer identified as Ngo Ngoc Canh stated “You do not belong with a sanctioned church organization. Do you know that the Hanoi government does not allow you to worship otherwise?” He further told that they could not celebrate or worship during Christmas. The Montagnard Christians stated that they did not want to join with Vietnam’s sanctioned church organization nor can they abandon worship service on Christmas. Then the police chief threatened them “if we find that you disobey, we will arrest you and put you in prison at the district.” Each was presented with a pledge to sign their names. For two days and nights on December 24 to 25, 2011, fourteen security forces were stationed at the village and the villagers were not allowed to leave their homes or worship in public.
INCIDENT III: On December 21, 2011 at approximately 8:00am 14 Christians were detained from three villages in Ia Mron commune for interrogation by security officials. The 14 Christians are listed below:
1. Nay Mun from Plei Rongol Hlin 2 village, commune Ia Mron, district Ia Pa, Gia Lai province.
2. Siu H’Lui “ “ “ “ “
3. Siu Yun Plei Rongol Rin 1 village, commune Ia Mron, district Ia Pa, Gia Lai province.
4. Ksor H’Chron “ “ “ “
5. Siu Yot “ “ “ “
6. Siu Kung “ “ “ “
7. Siu H’Le “ “ “ “
8. Siu The “ “ “ “
9. Rmah H’Djin “ “ “ “
10. Siu Dot “ “ “ “
11. Rmah H’Brak “ “ “ “
12. Ksor H’Juai “ “ “ “
13. Rcom H’Brin from Plei Rongol Rin 2 village, commune Ia Mron, Gia Lai province
14. Ksor H’Bi “ “ “ “
The security forces who interrogated these Christians are identified as
1. Van dinh Nho (Chief)
2. Ksor Mer (security force)
3. Ro O But (security force)
4. Nguyen Van Duy (security force)
5. Rcom Khoa(security force)
6. Ksor Thuot (police)
7. (unidentified officer)
The security officer named Nguyen Van Duy threatened the villagers stating “do you know the reason you are here?” When the Christians responded that they did not know, he stated “You do not belong to a sanctioned church. You must belong with a church the government of Hanoi approves of and you can only attend the church belonging to Siu Kim, which is sanctioned. Therefore, on December 25, 2011, you cannot worship. If you do, we will arrest you and put you in jail.” The Montagnard Degar Christians then stated that they would continue to worship their true God; and that they did not want to follow the church of Siu Kim or any church that is under government interference. The villagers each had to sign pledges agreeing to this so they could be released. The Christians report however, that they continue to worship without being members of the government sanctioned church.
INCIDENT IV: On December 1, 2011 Vietnamese authorities banned Christmas prayer vigils and celebrations. The authorities detained four Degar Montagnard Christians at their police office from 8am. These Degar Montagnard Christians are from Buon Tham village, commune Ia Trok, Ia Pa district, Gia Lai province and their names are listed below.
1. Siu, Vi
2. Rmah, Hduon
3. Siu, Pre
4. Rcom, Nuin
The four security forces identified as Trung, Dat, Rim Nay and Pham Tung Trung interrogated the Christians. A security force named Pham Tung Trung asked “Do you know the reason you all have been summoned here?” The Christians responded stating they did not why and that they have not done anything wrong. Officer Pham Tung Trung replied “The government of Hanoi does not allow you to worship independently. You can only worship with a church Hanoi has approved of.” Then security officer told them that because they did not belong to a registered church, they must cancel prayer worship on December 25, 2011. The security forces also warned them that if they congregate for worship or have Christmas prayer vigil that day, the authorities will arrest them. The Christians were released at 11:30am and that on December 24 and 25, 2011 the security forces stood guard day and night in their village and prevented the villagers from having prayer services.
THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION CALLS ON:
The US State Department to seriously review their current policy about the state of Vietnam’s religious persecution and consider placing Vietnam back on the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ watch list as recommended by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Concerned Embassies, US State Department, European Commission, United Nations, Red Cross and other international humanitarian agencies demand Vietnam release and account for all the hundreds of Degar Montagnard prisoners imprisoned in Vietnam as reported by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and Human Rights Watch.
