freedomdeclared | Jun 27, 2015
The Vietnamese government’s persecution of ethnic Montagnard Christians in Vietnam’s Central Highlands reflects broader rights violations against religious minorities in the country, Human Rights Watch says in a new report. The head of Vietnam’s ruling party, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is due to visit Washington, DC, in early July.
The 33-page report, “Persecuting ‘Evil Way’ Religion: Abuses against Montagnards in Vietnam,” is based on official Vietnamese media reports and Human Rights Watch interviews with Montagnards seeking asylum abroad. It describes religious and political persecution of Montagnards, highlanders who practice De Ga and Ha Mon forms of Christianity that the government calls “evil way” religions.
“Vietnam’s official media make it shockingly clear that persecution of religious minorities is state policy,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “The government should discard its Cold War mentality of treating people of different religions as the ‘enemy within’ and respect their basic right to religious freedom.”
Montagnards interviewed by Human Rights Watch described how people accused of belief in religions the government declares not “pure” and of having politically “autonomous thoughts” have been subjected to constant surveillance and other forms of intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and mistreatment in security force custody. In detention, the authorities question them about their religious and political activities and possible plans to flee Vietnam.
Government violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief in the Central Highlands reflect abuses also occurring in other areas of Vietnam. The authorities frequently monitor, harass, and at times violently crack down on religious groups that operate outside official government-registered and controlled religious institutions. Vietnam implements onerous regulations on religion that have been strengthened since 2013 with the promulgation of Decree 72, which prohibits “manipulation” of religion to “conduct propaganda against the state” or “undermine … national unity.”
Meanwhile, Thailand’s junta banned the HRW news conference in Bangkok to launch this report, claiming it would affect “relations” with the country’s communist authoritarian neighbour.
HRW said: “Thailand is choosing to side with dictatorships in ASEAN while further stepping up repression at home.”
The cancellation order issued by Thai police Friday said officials believed the press conference may “affect national security and Thai-Vietnamese relations and cooperation”. “The event is not appropriate in the current situation,” it added.
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June 29, 2015
VIETNAM ACCUSED OF MAKING PERSECUTION ‘STATE POLICY’
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights]
freedomdeclared | Jun 27, 2015
The Vietnamese government’s persecution of ethnic Montagnard Christians in Vietnam’s Central Highlands reflects broader rights violations against religious minorities in the country, Human Rights Watch says in a new report. The head of Vietnam’s ruling party, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, is due to visit Washington, DC, in early July.
The 33-page report, “Persecuting ‘Evil Way’ Religion: Abuses against Montagnards in Vietnam,” is based on official Vietnamese media reports and Human Rights Watch interviews with Montagnards seeking asylum abroad. It describes religious and political persecution of Montagnards, highlanders who practice De Ga and Ha Mon forms of Christianity that the government calls “evil way” religions.
“Vietnam’s official media make it shockingly clear that persecution of religious minorities is state policy,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “The government should discard its Cold War mentality of treating people of different religions as the ‘enemy within’ and respect their basic right to religious freedom.”
Montagnards interviewed by Human Rights Watch described how people accused of belief in religions the government declares not “pure” and of having politically “autonomous thoughts” have been subjected to constant surveillance and other forms of intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and mistreatment in security force custody. In detention, the authorities question them about their religious and political activities and possible plans to flee Vietnam.
Government violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief in the Central Highlands reflect abuses also occurring in other areas of Vietnam. The authorities frequently monitor, harass, and at times violently crack down on religious groups that operate outside official government-registered and controlled religious institutions. Vietnam implements onerous regulations on religion that have been strengthened since 2013 with the promulgation of Decree 72, which prohibits “manipulation” of religion to “conduct propaganda against the state” or “undermine … national unity.”
Meanwhile, Thailand’s junta banned the HRW news conference in Bangkok to launch this report, claiming it would affect “relations” with the country’s communist authoritarian neighbour.
HRW said: “Thailand is choosing to side with dictatorships in ASEAN while further stepping up repression at home.”
The cancellation order issued by Thai police Friday said officials believed the press conference may “affect national security and Thai-Vietnamese relations and cooperation”. “The event is not appropriate in the current situation,” it added.