MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION, INC.

Dedicated to the preservation of the Indigenous People of Vietnam’s Central Highlands

P.O. BOX 171114 - SPARTANBURG, SC 29301-0038 USA

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

SOLDIERS OCCUPY 62 DEGAR MONTAGNARD VILLAGES SO FAR AS THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT CREATES A CHRISTMAS SIEGE IN VIETNAM BY THREATENING CHRISTIANS WHO TRY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION APPEALS TO CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD TO PRAY FOR TOLERANCE AND AN END TO MONTAGNARD DEGAR PERSECUTION

16 December 2005 Spartanburg S.C. USA

The Vietnamese government has stepped up surveillance and intimidation of Degar Montagnard Christians leading up to Christmas in order to stop them from openly celebrating Christmas celebrations this year. This military build up of security forces involves an escalation of threats and intimidation which commenced in November 2005 and involves soldiers occupying Montagnard villages and threatening to arrest and torture Montagnards who pray or celebrate Christmas. Thus this Christmas will not be joyful one for the Montagnard Degar Christians and currently over 300 of our brothers and sisters remain in prison having been arrested and tortured by Vietnamese authorities. It is noted that indigenous Montagnards Degar Peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the communist government of Vietnam, namely; confiscation of their ancestral lands, torture, killings, unjust imprisonment and religious repression. In fact in December 2005 the US State Department has continued to maintain Vietnam on the “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations that are the worst violators of religious freedom in the world.

The Degar Montagnard Christians appeal now to our Christian Brothers and Sisters around the world to pray for them and hope that the Vietnamese government will show some respect for international law and our basic human rights. The Montagnard Degar Man (right) demonstrates an example of religious persecution in Vietnam and how he was tortured with a form of crucifixion by Vietnamese police in 2003. He was chained to a wall and nails were placed under his feet. (See video on MFI website). Police tortured him and asked him “Where is your Jesus Now?”

To date we have received reports that 56 villages have been occupied and it is most likely the entire region will suffer similar repression. The following report was received by the Montagnard Foundation direct from our people inside Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Gialai Province: The following villages have been occupied by Vietnamese soldiers and police in Gialai Province. The soldiers have threatened the villagers that whoever celebrates Christmas will be arrested, tortured and imprisoned.

At the village of Bon Broai the Vietnamese government has sent approximately 50 soldiers on December 6, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance. Five soldiers were stationed at the house of Kok Ksor’s mother who arrive there every night and intimidate her and her family.

At the village of Bon Tul the government has sent 8 soldiers on December 6, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Pei Dmun the government has placed 8 soldiers on December 6, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers. The soldiers have forcibly commandeered the house belonging to villager named Rmah H’Niem.

At the village of Bon Croh Ponan the government has placed 30 soldiers on December 6, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers. Ten soldiers have forcibly commandeered the house belonging to villager named Nai Weu, Ten soldiers have forcibly commandeered the house belonging to villager named Ksor H’Yuok and Ten soldiers have forcibly commandeered the house belonging to villager named Nai H’Kaih.

At the village of Plei Hlu the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Le An the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Le Ngol the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Khoih Jek the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Nu the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Bong the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Kluh the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Keng the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Nai the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Ka the government has placed 2 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

Beside the village of Plei Sao the government has placed a military camp with around 300 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Plei Tai Glai the government has placed around 30 soldiers on December 5, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers. Another 100 soldiers have encamped beside village.

At the village of Plei Grak the government has placed around 13 soldiers in October of 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

Next to Plei Hra village around 50 soldiers have been encamped there since September of 2005

Next to Plei Mung village around 20 soldiers have been encamped there since September of 2005

At the village of Plei Sur A the government has placed around 5 soldiers on December 8, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

On December 7, 2005 100 soldiers encamped beside the village of Plei Breng 1 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

On December 7, 2005 100 soldiers encamped beside the village of Plei Blang 3 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

On December 10, 2005 100 soldiers encamped in the middle of the village of Plei Del to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

On December 10, 2005 108 soldiers encamped between the village of Plei Ciom and Plei Hluh to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

On December 113, 2005 100 soldiers encamped inside the village of Plei Krung to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

Daklak Province: The following villages have been occupied by Vietnamese soldiers and police in Dak Lak Province. The soldiers have threatened the villagers that whoever celebrates Christmas will be arrested, tortured and imprisoned.

At the village of Buon Ko Tam the government has placed around 325 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Buon Tring the government has placed around 66 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the commune of Ea Drong the government has placed around 2,250 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Buon Nieng the government has placed around 35 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Buon Ea Mdhar the government has placed around 40 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Buon Drec the government has placed around 9 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Buon Dung the government has placed around 10 soldiers on December 1, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

Dak Nong Province: The following villages have been occupied by Vietnamese soldiers and police in Dak Nong Province. The soldiers have threatened the villagers that whoever celebrates Christmas will be arrested, tortured and imprisoned.

At the village of Bong Buk the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Ndrung the government has placed around 40 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Koh Bu Dach the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Mera the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Dong the government has placed around 25 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu So 2 the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Ndrung Ja the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Mblanh 1 the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Mblanh 2 the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Jalu the government has placed around 40 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Jalu Dak Rwe the government has placed around 20 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Ndrong the government has placed around 40 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Dak Sreh the government has placed around 30 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Dak Rlop the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Leng Loch the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Dap the government has placed around 40 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Dak Rmuan the government has placed around 20 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Jrah the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Ol the government has placed around 40 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Sre the government has placed around 30 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Gor the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Kueng the government has placed around 25 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Dak Dia the government has placed around 25 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Phung Lu N’glang the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Nau thon 5 the government has placed around 25 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Nau Nhan Dao the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Prong Quang Truc the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

60. At the village of Bu Kra, Bu Mbrang the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Sop the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

At the village of Bu Nung the government has placed around 35 soldiers on November 28, 2005 to keep the village under surveillance and intimidate the villagers.

THE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION APPEALS TO CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE:

The Degar Montagnard Christians inside the Central Highlands feel their Christmas is under siege and it is obvious that they will not have a chance to freely celebrate the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ this year. These villagers however, have reported to us they will pray inside their homes and celebrate Christmas in their hearts and minds of which the Vietnamese communist authorities cannot control.

Our recent survey with our Christian brothers and sisters in the Central Highlands, have identified that over 30,000 registered Degar Christians in the area of Pleiku alone have vowed they will defy Vietnamese communist authorities and will not renounce Christ. They also vow never to join the government sponsored church - regardless of the consequences. They have comforted and encouraged themselves with the words of Jesus, in the book of Mark 13:9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.”

Montagnard Degar people inside Vietnam have said the time has come to face the persecution and not run - in order to be with our Lord and Saviour.

Because of their decision, we the Montagnard Foundation deliver this appeal on their behalf to ask our Christian brothers and sisters around the world to remember them in your prayers on Christmas Day 2005.

On behalf of our people who are repressed in Vietnam we extend our thanks and prayers and wish all the best over Christmas and the holiday season.

Source: Montagnard Foundation