This was during late 2002-early 2003.
AS for the mentions on the situation that I came in contact with, by the leak made through various sources such as International-Christian-Concern or ICC an independent non-government organisation dates from January 2003 and follows;
October 29, 2002, three Montagnard (mountain people) Christians from Dak Lak province were executed by lethal injection for the "crime" of participating in public protests during 2001.
On October 29, 2002 the Vietnamese Security Forces (Cong An) executed by lethal injection in their prison cells three Montagnard Christians from the Central Highlands. The victims were Y-Suon Mlo, from Buon Kuang village, Y-Het Nie Kdam, from Buon Ea Tieo village and Y-Wan Ayun, from Buon Gram village. All these villages are in Dak Lak province.
In September 2002, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended Vietnam as a "country of particular concern" for its ongoing human rights and religious freedom violations.
It was this report, which was quickly followed by a feature petition earlier that year, stating to the president of United States by the reference of USCIRF a -morbid forecast- about the conditions within the Vietnamese province which led to the conditions for Dak Lak villagers.
Such a rude report to read at the beginning of the year this one was, that I read it and re-read to try and come to grips with what really happened or how such a simple and physically harmless movement could warrant such a consequence. Reflecting on my own civil-liberties here as well. To officially believe in or practice whatever I want as the state says.
And if the -lethal injection execution- was the answer or consequence for using civil-liberties to have the right to live off one’s ancestral ground or land, then something must have really needed to be taken in order for the State officials to endorse that cause for death.
Anyway, set-up nicely and timely laid-out, there was an e-petition against this savageness in front of me to fill in, sign, and well…then send to a higher-political-power and raise their awareness on the issue as the NGO requested.
So I did just that. I signed, filled in, wrote a couple of additional words and sent "the particular concern" to the petition to the Whitehouse website. The Dak Lak situation the above report mentioned.
I did so, my bit of activism, responded to it more than saying “that isn’t right, what they did to them three over there!”
I responded thinking that with additional activists in my position and better something productive may come of this, if after all that was why the Whitehouse (REPS) receive mails, and petitions here was one more from me to add to the many they get. So I sent what looked like this:
I am writing to ask if you would express concern over the very serious repression and violence that Vietnam metes out against the Montagnard people.
As you may have heard, peaceful demonstrations over the Easter period in protest at the severe abuses suffered by the Montagnards were brutally crushed. Security forces dressed in civilian clothing wielded clubs, iron bars, chains and farming tools against the unarmed protestors.
It is estimated that there were 30,000 demonstrators in Dak Lak and Gai Lai and that there were over 30 critical incidents in as many locations. It has been conservatively estimated that dozens were killed and hundreds injured, with many hundreds more still unaccounted for.
It appears that those responsible sought to cover up all evidence of the massacre through a thoroughly executed attack, swift clean-up and control of access to the area. It is therefore all the more vital that Vietnam be confronted with the evidence.
I would also kindly request that you would personally convey your concerns in strong terms directly to the Vietnamese authorities.
I am most grateful to you for taking the time to consider and respond to my concerns.
This letter laid-out as it was set by the responsible at Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Provided by CSW
MY
ENTRIES