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A dilemma for American foreign policy
By Scott Johnson
Special to ASSIST News Service
HANOI, VIETNAM (ANS) -- Communist regimes like Vietnam have never been known for their
tolerance of religion but recently in 2003 Hanoi has escalated the persecution of its
“hill tribe” Christians to an unprecedented level. In the Central Highlands of
Vietnam the indigenous Montagnards or Degar Peoples are facing arrest, beatings, torture
and even murder at the hands of Vietnamese security forces. This persecution did not go
unnoticed this month in a damming report released by the US International Commission For
Religious Freedom that stated, “the increased repression of religious freedom has
been reportedly sanctioned at the highest levels of the Vietnamese government.”
Today in Vietnam the Montagnard’s ancestral homelands are currently sealed off from
international observers as secret police enforce a campaign to crush the spread of
Christianity. This repression is the culmination of years of systematic persecution of
Vietnam’s highland peoples who were once allied with American forces during the
Vietnam War. Over 40,000 Montagnards had served alongside US troops during that conflict
where their loyalty and fighting prowess became legendary. It was however, a loyalty not
appreciated by the victorious communists.
“The Montagnards have been repressed by Vietnam for decades. This has got to
stop,” reported Human Rights Watch in April 2002. But the persecution has not
stopped. One year later in April 2003 Human Rights Watch reported an “escalation of
repression,” with the release of “secret” government documents ordering
further repression of Christians. Churches have been destroyed while authorities force
Montagnards to renounce Christianity. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have
also documented hundreds of political prisoners and even killings of Montagnard refugees
who have tried fleeing to Cambodia. In fact, the Vietnamese/Cambodian border is patrolled
by soldiers, where Cambodian authorities hunt down and “sell” refugees to
Vietnamese police for bounties.
On the diplomatic front, the Vietnamese government has tried to hijack the Human Rights
Commission by accusing those who speak in the UN against this brutality, of being
“terrorists.” Kok Ksor, a committed Montagnard Christian and president of the
US-based Montagnard Foundation has not only been declared a “terrorist” last
year by Hanoi but has had his relatives in Vietnam tortured in retaliation for speaking
out. Hanoi even demanded the United Nations kick the rights group that sponsored him to
speak at the UN - the Transnational Radical Party - out of the UN for good, as a warning
to other groups who try bringing such issues to world attention. Kok Ksor has however
vowed, “We will continue letting the world know how the Vietnamese communist
government is committing genocide against our people.” Courageously the Transnational
Radical Party also has refused to buckle under threats from Hanoi.
But how does this persecution relate to foreign policy of the United States? Well for
starters, the Montagnards were loyal allies to the US military during the Vietnam War.
Thus the question arises - Is there a historical debt owed to these people by the United
States?
Certainly many Vietnam Veterans think so. Some Special Forces veterans have launched a
lobbying effort and website (Green Berets 4 Human Rights at www.gb4hr.net/) to assist in
the passing of the Vietnam Human Rights Act. Having fought alongside the Montagnards these
Green Berets understand what loyalty means. The act was re-launched this year in Congress
by Rep. Chris Smith along with 30 bi-partisan colleagues The legislation calls for the
halt of US non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam unless the Vietnamese government makes
significant progress in improving human rights for all Vietnamese citizens. President
Bush’s administration too, has recognized “the duty owed” to the
Montagnards and last year granted asylum to over 900 Montagnard refugees who had escaped
the persecution in Vietnam.
But there are others in the United States who have forgotten or deliberately ignored the
debt owed to the Montagnards.
Senator John Kerry is one of these. Last year he placed a hold on the original Vietnam
Human Rights bill from coming for a vote to the Senate floor. While the House of
Representatives had voted overwhelmingly in favor of it (410-1) Senator Kerry buried the
act, along with the hopes and dreams of thousands of Montagnards and Vietnamese people.
Unfortunately Kerry demonstrated that human rights are secondary concerns when it comes to
doing business with Hanoi. The astounding thing about this is that Kerry himself is a
Vietnam Veteran. He is also currently seeking the Democratic nomination for President.
True, the United States however, has strategic interests in dealing with Vietnam. Trade is
one and the US/Vietnam Trade Council has lobbied very hard for entry into Vietnam’s
markets. Vietnam’s ports and it’s strategic position in the South China Sea, not
to mention offshore oil interests too have all had a hand in influencing US foreign policy
with Hanoi.
For the Montagnards in Vietnam however, this is little comfort…
On March 13, 2003 a Montagnard was shot and wounded by Vietnamese security forces while
washing at a rivers edge. A few days later the police returned his battered corpse to his
family. Human Rights Watch reported his skull had been crushed from apparent beatings
whilst in custody.
On February 27, 2003 the villagers in Dak Lac province were paraded in front of three
executed Montagnards - whose eyes had been cut out. The authorities threatened the
villagers not to follow Christianity - or else. Over the past year Human Rights Watch
documented numerous incidents where authorities conduct mass ceremonies forcing
Montagnards to renounce Christ, sometimes while drinking sacrificed animal’s blood.
One thing is certain - no civilized nation treats its indigenous citizens in such a
barbaric manner. It should also be certain that civilized nations today do not contribute
further to such barbarity by collaborating with repressive nations like Vietnam.
Referring to America’s role with Vietnam Rep. Frank Wolf, R – VA, recently
commented on “those who worship at the shrine of trade.” A courageous statement,
he was hitting out on those who abandon justice in favor of trade. He was condemning those
who practice economic prostitution with repressive governments like Vietnam.
And thus the United States must consider the debt owed to the Montagnards and to all the
oppressed people of Vietnam. Particularly now, after the Iraq conflict has officially
ended, for there exists the opportunity for the United States to change the destiny of not
only Arab-Western relations for generations, but the destiny of the world. Potential
future allies will be watching America and its role in upholding ideals and standing by
the oppressed peoples of the world. For the Montagnard’s sake, lets hope today’s
leaders cast down - the idols worshipped at the shrine of trade.
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