Allegations of torture of a Montagnard Degar Christian by Vietnamese authorities have been taken serious by Human Rights Watch following verified media reports.

Below are extracts of an article written by Michael Ireland and published by Assist News:

Allegations of torture of a Montagnard Degar Christians are now being taken seriously following a report in a Cambodian newspaper.

According to the Montagnard Foundation, Human Rights Watch Refugee policy Director Bill Frelick now takes as fact a report in a Cambodian newspaper claims that a Degar Christian has been tortured by Vietnamese government forces.

The article titled "UNHCR Mum on Montagnard Torture Allegations" by Douglas Gillison, published in the Cambodian Daily on Friday, August 10, 2007, describes how the UN High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed the circumstances of the statements made by the Montagnard Foundation, but declined to discuss the actual torture allegations of Y-Phuc Buon Krong.

The article did, however, report that Human Rights Watch Refugee Policy Director Bill Frelick said his organization now takes the reported torture as fact and quoted him saying: "We have sources in the Central Highlands that have independently confirmed this incident." He wrote: "We are extremely concerned about continuing reports of threats, harassment, and even detention and beatings of Montagnards visited by international delegations."

The Montagnard Foundation (MFI) has further re-confirmed from various sources that Vietnamese security forces had gone into the village of Buon Cuor Knia prior to the UNHCR officials arriving there and threatened the villagers beforehand that if they say anything negative to foreigners when they arrive in the village that they will be arrested, tortured and imprisoned.

MFI says the entire village was deeply frightened when the UNHCR officials arrived in company of security forces and further the security forces later prevented UNHCR from meetings the villagers.

"We re-confirm the entire meeting was a scheduled attempted 'set up' by Vietnamese security forces to hoodwink the UNHCR, MFI states.

[…]

In a media advisory, the Montagnard Foundation "calls on the international community to investigate the appalling situation particularly as Vietnam hinders monitors in the region. A permanent diplomatic solution is needed as Degar Montagnards report they are afraid to speak to foreigners or UNHCR officials."

[…]

The Montagnard Foundation has therefore urgently called on concerned Embassies, US State Department, European Commission, United Nations, Red Cross and other international humanitarian agencies to investigate Y-Phuoc Buonkrong’s situation and ensure he is protected by the UNHCR and ensure the three Degar women detained by Vietnamese security forces are not persecuted in Vietnam.

MFI also asks these and other international humanitarian agencies "demand Vietnam release and account for all Degar prisoners including the 350 identified in the Human Rights Watch report of June 14, 2006."

The US State Department, European Commission, United Nations and other peace loving nations are being asked to seriously review their diplomatic and economic relations with Vietnam, given "the flagrant disregard for human rights and broken promises continually made by Hanoi."

MFI is also requesting the US State Department to place Vietnam back on the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ watch list for committing ongoing religious persecution against Christian house churches.

The organization says it pledges "peaceful means of advocacy in the spirit of democracy and international cooperation. MFI does not seek independence but prays that all Degar Montagnard people, whether they are Protestant, Catholic or animist will one day live freely as equal citizens within Vietnam."