A wave of peaceful protest swept across Vietnam last week as Christian Degars called for the release of political prisoners and observance of Hanoi’s international obligations.

Below is an article published by the Montagnard Foundation:

The following villages have joined the peaceful and non-violent demonstrations, requesting that the government release our Degar Christian brothers and sisters who have recently been arrested and also for every Degar prisoner who has been unjustly imprisoned since February of 2001.  Demonstrators are also asking the Vietnamese government to respect the United Nations treaties and covenants which they have signed, affirming the basic human rights of the Degar and their rights as indigenous peoples.

1 – More than 50 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi Bang, Ploi Beng and Ploi Kom conducted a peaceful and non-violent protest for the release of their Christian brothers and sister, Puih H’Bat, Ksor Sim and Rahlan Don, at the communal of Ia Chia, district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai on April 11, 2008.

2 – Around 22 Degar Christians from the village of Ploi Sung Kep conducted a protest at the communal of Ia Kla, district of Duc Co in the province of Gialai for the same reason and on the same date, April 11, 2008.

3 – Around 150 Degar Christians from the village of Ploi Kenh Siu conducted a protest at the communal of Cu Prong, district of Cu Se in the province of Gialai for the same reason on April 12, 2008.

4 - Around 200 Degar Christians from the villages of Buon Sam, Buon Dang and Buon Hwing conducted a protest at the communal of Ia Hleo, district of Ia Hleo in the province of Daklak for the same reason and on the same date, April 12, 2008.

5 – More than 100 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi R’bai, Ploi Crung and Ploi Ksing conducted a protest at the communal of Ia Piar, district of Phu Thien in the province of Gialai for the same reason and on the same date, April 12, 2008.

6 - More than 250 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi Khop, Ploi Ciom, Ploi Hluh, Ploi Del and Ploi Te conducted a protest in front of the village of Ploi Del, the communal of Ia To, district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai for the same reason on April 13, 2008.

7 - More than 200 Degar Christians from the villages of Ploi Tomong, Ploi Krung and Ploi Nang conducted a protest in front of the communal of Ia To, district of Ia Grai in the province of Gialai for the same reason and on the same date, April 13, 2008.

8 – On April 11, 2008, at around 6:00 am in the morning, approximately 7,000 Degar from 5 different communal villages of Ia Uor, Cu Drang, Ia Siom, Cu Rkam, and R’sai in the district of Krong Pa the province of Gialai conducted a protest in front of the communal village of Ia Siom. The Vietnamese government responded by sending around 1,500 soldiers and together with security police violently and brutally pushed them back to their villages, where they were placed under house arrest with soldiers left to guard them.

9 – On the same day, Friday April 11, 2008, at around 12:00 o’clock noon, approximately 350 Degar Christians from the village of Buon Pung conducted a protest in front of the communal office of Ia Lam in the district of Song Hinh in the province of Phu Yen for the same reason – to request that the Vietnamese government release all Degar prisoners who have been unjustly arrested and imprisoned since 2001 and also for the Vietnamese government to stop all hostility and prejudice towards the Degar people. Degar protesters desire a peaceful solution to the current conflict between the Degar and Vietnamese, hoping that the two peoples can soon live in peace as one people and one Nation. In response to this reasonable request, the Vietnamese government sent around 500 soldiers together with security police and shot tear gas into the crowd. Officials shocked the protesters with electric batons and beat them with sticks and clubs, brutally and violently pushing the protesters to return to their homes, oftentimes even at gunpoint. What’s more, when the protesters arrived home, there were already 150 security police and soldiers waiting for them. The police proceeded to lock villagers inside their homes and refusing to allow anyone to leave – not even to get food and water for their children or even to relieve them-selves. Remember, Degar villagers do not have indoor plumbing like many Vietnamese citizens, so this house arrest was exponentially unfair.  This is how the Vietnamese government treats the Degar people when they ask the government simply to respect their human rights and rights as indigenous people, rights which Vietnam affirmed by accepting the United Nations treaties, covenants, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

10 – The Vietnamese government also sent around 150 soldiers together with security police to the Degar villages in the commune of Ia Lam, Buon Gao, Buon Hok and Buon Bai, in order to lock the villagers inside their home. These villagers were not even allowed the chance to protest since they were locked inside their homes with a Vietnamese guard stationed at every house.

Time and time again, Vietnam is disregarding its own laws when dealing with the Degar people. Observe the following Vietnamese laws:

Article 69

The citizen shall enjoy freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of the press, the right to be informed, and the right to assemble, form associations and hold demonstrations in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 70

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.

Article 71

The citizen shall enjoy inviolability of the person and the protection of the law with regard to his life, health, honor and dignity.

No one can be arrested in the absence of a ruling by the People's Court, a ruling or sanction of the People's Office of Supervision and Control except in case of flagrant offenses. Taking a person into, or holding him in, custody must be done with full observance of the law.

It is strictly forbidden to use all forms of harassment and coercion, torture, violation of his honor and dignity, against a citizen.

Article 72

No one shall be regarded as guilty and be subjected to punishment before the sentence of the Court has acquired full legal effect.

Any person who has been arrested, held in custody, prosecuted, brought to trial in violation of the law shall be entitled to damages for any material harm suffered and his reputation shall be rehabilitated. Anybody who contravenes the law in arresting, holding in custody, prosecuting, bringing to trial another person thereby causing him damage shall be dealt with severely.

What is the purpose of these laws, if not to protect citizens from an abusive government? Are these laws hollow, designed to do nothing but conceal Vietnam’s evil acts from the international community?

If Vietnam holds an important position at the United Nations, that is – membership in the UN Security Council, but disregards UN law, how can Vietnam then convince other UN State Members to follow the UN laws?

The Degar people cry out to the international community to come to our aid. We ask that world leaders exert economic and political pressure on the Vietnamese government in order to convince them to respect the human rights and indigenous rights of the Degar people and most of all to respect the United Nations treaties, UN Covenants, UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.