VIETNAM (ANS) -- An estimated 400 Christians have been killed in brutal repression of peaceful and prayerful demonstrations by Montagnard Christians in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, according to the Barnabas Fund, quoting information from The Montagnard Foundation.
The report states that on Saturday April 10 up to 400,000 Vietnamese Christians, from the Degar people, gathered in several Vietnamese cities to demonstrate against the government’s refusal to allow them to follow the Christian faith freely.
"The demonstrators in the cities, which included the Central Highland city of Buonmathuot, were attacked by soldiers, police and other Vietnamese civilians. The Christians were shot at, beaten with electric batons and bombarded with rocks and stones. Hundreds were killed (400 according to one report) and many others have suffered broken bones," the Barnabas Fund said.
A press release on April 9 from the Montagnard Foundation, an organization representing the largely Christian Degar people, drew attention to the planned demonstrations, which were to include a specific call for the Vietnamese government to lift the embargo on international human rights monitoring in the Central Highlands area.
In a word of warning concerning the demonstrations the Foundation cautioned that “Without the direct intervention of law abiding states, the UN and the European Commission, the repression against the Montagnards will be bloody.”
The Montagnard Foundation believes this incident may spark a refugee crisis, with thousands likely to head for the Cambodian border. To add to the woes of these people, the Cambodians have closed this border to refugees.
In a statement issued after the demonstrations had begun, Kok Ksor, the President of the Montagnard Foundation said that no attempt was made by the Christians to use violence. He also stated that the Christians are not seeking independence, merely the right to worship freely.
The Foundation has said, “Our people cannot continue suffering this way as the Vietnamese government continues to arrest, electric shock torture, and kill our peaceful hill tribe people for being Christian or for trying to save our ancestral land from being confiscated.”
Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be available for news editors on request to Barnabas Fund and the Montagnard Foundation.
Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities mainly, but not exclusively, in the Islamic world where they are facing poverty and persecution.
Barnabas Fund The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK. Tel: +44(0)1672 564938, Fax: +44(0)1672 565030, E-mail: info@barnabasfund.org Web: www.barnabasfund.org
The Montagnard Foundation is dedicated to the Preservation of the Indigenous Peoples of Central Vietnam.
Montagnard Foundation, P.O. BOX 171114, SPARTANBURG, SC 29301-0101, USA; Phone:(864) 576 – 0698; Fax: (864) 595 – 1940. President of the Montagnard Foundation: Mr. Kok Ksor:E-mail: kksor@montagnard-foundation.org; WebSite: http://www.montagnard-foundation.org; Or contact: Spokesperson/advisor: Scott Johnson scottj@mail2me.com.au
By Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service