[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PERSECUTION OF THE MONTAG- NARD PEOPLES IN VIETNAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CASS BALLENGER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution 
concerning the persecution of the Montagnard peoples in Vietnam.
  The Montagnards are indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands of 
Vietnam who have long suffered discrimination and mistreatment at the 
hands of successive Vietnamese governments. In the 1960's and 1970's 
the Montagnard freedom fighters were the first line in the defense of 
South Vietnam against invasion from the North, fighting courageously 
beside members of the Special Forces of the United States Army, 
suffering disproportionately heavy casualties, and saving the lives of 
many of their American and Vietnamese comrades in arms. Today the 
Montagnards are singled out by the Vietnamese government due to their 
past association with the United States, their strong commitment to 
their traditional way of life and to their Christian religion.
  Due to this persecution, many Montagnards have attempted to flee 
Vietnam to other countries, including Cambodia. The Royal Government of 
Cambodia has announced that Montagnards found in Cambodia who express a 
fear of return to Vietnam will be placed under the protection of the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees rather then forcibly 
repatriated to Vietnam. Unfortunately, it appears there is a policy of 
systematic repatriation of Montagnard asylum seekers to Vietnam by some 
officials of the central government. There also are credible reports 
that Vietnamese security forces are operating openly in the Mondulkiri 
and Ratanakiri provinces of Cambodia to repatriate Montagnards.
  My resolution urges the government of Vietnam to allow freedom of 
religious belief and practice to all Montagnards, return all 
traditional Montagnard lands that have been confiscated, allow 
international humanitarian organizations to deliver humanitarian 
assistance directly to Montagnards in their villages, and to withdraw 
its security forces from Cambodia and stop hunting down refugees. It 
also commends the Royal Government of Cambodia for its official policy 
of guaranteeing temporary asylum for Montagnards fleeing Vietnam and 
urges the Cambodian government to take all necessary measures to ensure 
that all officials and employees of the local, provincial, and central 
governments fully obey the policy of providing temporary asylum. 
Finally, this resolution has the Department of State make clear to the 
Government of Vietnam that continued mistreatment of the Montagnard 
peoples represent a grave threat to the process of normalization of 
relations between the governments of the United States and Vietnam.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Montagnard peoples 
of Vietnam by cosponsoring this resolution.

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