Montagnards: Vietnam Security Forces Attack Massive Prayer Meetings
HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Vietnamese security forces raided several prayer meetings of Montagnard Christians in the Central Highlands injuring dozens of believers, and at least one Montagnard Christian was fighting for his life Friday, January 5, following torture in prison, representatives said.
The Montagnard Foundation Incorporated (MFI), which has close contacts with Montagnard Christians in Vietnam, said Sip, a man in his 30’s, was suffering "prolonged mistreatment, torture and beatings," while being detained.
Sip, who is from Gia Lai province, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for attending a prayer vigil in 2004 and briefly released in January, as authorities feared he would die of his injuries, MFI said."However security police have told him that if he regains his health he will be returned to serve out his prison term. Sip is currently crippled from his maltreatment and is unable to walk."
The group told BosNewsLife that the man, "also suffers health problems related to his pancreas and heart complications. It is feared he will soon die and he requires urgent medical attention."
She was "beaten and kicked until she was unconscious and had forced cold water down her throat. After 14 days of repeated abuse she almost died and authorities released her without medical attention," MFI claimed. .
Her parents were reportedly forced to pay $1500 in medical expenses and the student was expelled from school. She was rearrested December 28 and apparently remained behind bars in Cu Jut prison Friday, January 5.
MFI suggested that the arrests came amid a fresh crackdown on devoted Montagnard Christians in the
"Vietnamese government police and soldiers then attacked them, beating the unarmed Christians with sticks and batons. Crowds of men, women, and children were driven into a ditch while children screamed and cried," said MFI.
"Elderly men and women were beaten and many were dragged by police and soldiers to a river called Pak Ko." It said that at least 65 villagers suffered injuries while one man, identified as A Theo, was "beaten unconscious." At least 10 other villagers were listed in critical condition and needed “urgent medical assistance," the group said.
The raid came shortly after an estimated 1500 Protestant Montagnard believers from the
MFI reported that about 15 villagers were punched, kicked and beaten with bamboo sticks while a preacher, identified as A Tik, "was seriously injured."
Montagnards, or "mountain people", are the indigenous peoples of the
Authorities have also been angered by the refusal of many Montagnard Christians to join the official churches, as they allegedly lack Biblical teaching and are not focused on Jesus Christ.
MFI says at least 350 Montagnard prisoners, most of them Christians, are held in several prisons, often on charges related to spreading Christianity and for fleeing to neighboring
"As we have repeatedly made it clear
However he also admitted that, "The State cares for and facilitates the development of religions in