Below is an appeal issued by the Montagnard Foundation Inc.:

Vietnam continues to repress Degar Christians and disregards all UN Covenants and even its own law.  Another Degar woman has been arrested and sent to prison because of her House Church activities. On behalf of all Degar Christians who are in the horrible and brutal prison of Vietnam, I appeal to the International Community and especially the Christians around the world to do something for the release of these innocent prisoners. 

[…]

Article 18 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states:

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

(Vietnam signed this ICCPR on December 24, 1982)

Article 70 of Vietnam law states:

The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law.

The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law.

No one can violate freedom of belief and of religion; nor can anyone misuse beliefs and religions to contravene the law and State policies.

Are the actions of the Vietnamese government consistent with the laws above? If not, why do so many governments in the world praise Vietnam for its improvement in the field of human rights? Instead of using economic measures as a leverage to stop Vietnam from violating international rules and laws, many governments around the world actually encourage Vietnam’s behavior by welcoming Vietnam to the WTO (World Trade Organization) and offering the corrupt government a seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Vietnam Government Forces Degar Christians To Join the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (ECVN)

The Degar people do not wish to join this government sponsored church because many of the procedures and routines in this church simply do not seem right by God. Due to the strong and threatening government presence in that church to the practices that border on government worship, we feel that this is not a true Christian Church.  Also, indigenous Degar people do not want a government-imposed religion. We need our own independent church so that we can worship God in our own language and better understand the teachings of our own Degar pastors. This has nothing to do with political matters. Moreover, this decision is not in any way an opposition to the government of Vietnam. Degar people just want to worship God in the way that we see fit. 

On May 11, 2008, Vietnamese security police from the district of Cu Pah, in the province of Gialai, went to the village of Ploi Rwai in the commune of Ia Khuol and summoned around 70 Degar Christians to meet with them.  At this meeting, the security police told all Degar Christians that they must sign a contract agreeing to stop conducting religious services in their home and only follow the Hoi Thanh Tin Lanh Vietnam (Evangelical Church of Vietnam - ECVN). The Degar Christians refused to sign this agreement even though the police told them that anyone who refused to accept this church would be imprisoned and tortured.

On May 12, 2008, the Vietnamese’s People Committee of Ia Khuol commune summoned 20 of Degar Christians known to conduct services in their homes to their office; 35 Degar Christians went.  When the 35 Degar Christians arrived at the office, the Vietnamese security police expressed hostility and anger that the Degar Christians refused to follow ECVN.

The Police said: your religion is FULRO (Front Unifie de Lutte des Races Opprimees - United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races) religion and you worship Ksor Kok.

Degar woman Christian, R’com H’Glah, answered: we worship God we do not worship Ksor Kok and we do not believe Ksor Kok is God because he is human like us and he himself believes in God and worships God like we do.

The Police said:  Our government does not allow you to have an independent church.  You can only worship in the Vietnamese church and follow only the Hoi Thanh Tin Lanh Vietnam (ECVN) denomination.  You must agree and sign the paper.

The Degar Christians still refused to sign the agreement paper and at the end of the day, the Vietnamese security police allowed them to return to their village.

On May 17, 2008, the Vietnamese government sent approximately 200 riot police and soldiers equipped with helmets, shields, electrical batons, teargas to block […] roads and trails surrounding the village of Ploi Rwai, commune of Ia Khuol in the district of Cu Pah of Gialai province where they arrested our Christian sister R’com H’Glah age 43 and took her to the prison facility in the district of Cu Pah.  She was arrested because she refused to join the Vietnamese church and because she has been leading many people in her village and the surrounding villages to Christ by encouraging people to pray and reading God’s word in her home.

On behalf of our Christian brothers and sisters who are now in the brutal and horrible prisons of Vietnam, I am appealing to all Christians around the world to please remember these Christian brothers and sisters of ours in your prayer.

[…]  

Kok Ksor

President of Montagnard Foundation, Inc.