to overlook religious rights violations in the Communist nation at a time when it seeks entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), BosNewsLife learned Monday, September 18.
In comments to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC) last week obtained by BosNewsLife, the president of what is known as the Montagnard Foundation Incorporated (MFI), Kok Ksor, said that "while negotiations between the United States and Vietnam are underway, the Vietnamese government continues to persecute the Montagnard Degar people."
Ksor, who was born in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, cited several cases when Christian prisoners were allegedly tortured to death. On August 30, our "Christian Brother, Thup, died in Trai Ba Sao prison in Ha Nam province due to severe torture."
Earlier on July 13, "our Christian Brother, Y-Ngo Adrong, was tortured to death in the police interrogation room at Ea Hleo district, Daklak province," he added.
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
He said that MFI, which has close contacts with the predominantly Christian Montagnard Degar community in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, learned that these are no isolated cases.
"On December 30, 2005 our Christian Brother, Khon, was released from prison because he was suffering severe brain damage from being brutally tortured and painfully died on May 31, 2006 at his home," he told the CHRC. In addition, "in the month of July and August of 2006, 23 of our House Church Christian Brothers have been arrested, tortured and sent to prison. The list goes on and on…," he added.
Ksor has linked the alleged abuses to concern among Communist authorities about the spread of Christianity as well as the cooperation of Montagnard Degars to the US forces during the Vietnam War.
SOUTH VIETNAM
"After the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 the Communist government of Vietnam enacted a brutal revenge against Degar people by executing our leaders and imprisoning thousands of our people. Today persecution by the government of Vietnam involves confiscation of our ancestral lands, Christian religious repression, torture, killings, discrimination and unjust imprisonment," he said.
Ksor said he now speaks on behalf of "over 350 of our people still remain in Vietnam’s brutal prisons for speaking out against the government, for spreading Christianity or for fleeing to Cambodia. "
He said that at a time when the Vietnamese government "is trying to expand relations, become a partner in trade and strategic ally of the United States, there is no reason for the Vietnamese government to consider Degar people as its number one enemy either because of our past support to the US Armed Forces or because of our adoption of Christianity…"
TRADE RELATIONS
He said Christianity "initially came to our homelands from the United States." Ksor stressed his foundation is "not against Vietnam/United States relations and we do not oppose Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status or Vietnam’s accession to the WTO."
However, "we do pray that the US business community and US government will do what it can to remember the sacrifice our people made during the war. “ He said the Montagnard Degar people "have always looked to America for help because we believe there is no nation in this world who knows our people better than the United States."
He said Montagnard Degar Christians were praying "that the US can help facilitate a meaningful, lasting and peaceful solution to the issues facing not only our race of people but for all the citizens of Vietnam. "
In September 2006 the US State Department continued to maintain Vietnam on the "watch list" of countries which it considers as the worst violators of religious freedom, but it also cited some improvements in Vietnam regarding religious freedom issues. The Vietnam authorities have denied human rights abuses and say groups like MFI spread propaganda. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from Vietnam and Washington).
