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Persecution of Hmong Christians and Muong Nhe Incident, BPSOS 01/24/12 Page 1 of 10
Persecution of Hmong Christians and the Muong Nhe Incident
A Report Compiled from Direct Interviews with Victims and Witnesses
BPSOS, January 24, 2012
Contact Information: [email protected]
In early May 2011, Vietnamese military troops attacked thousands of Hmong who gatherednear Huoi Khon Village in the Muong Nhe District, Dien Bien Province (North Vietnam)
to call for a stop to government confiscation of their land and for religious freedom.
Reportedly scores were killed and many more injured. The government of Vietnam has
effectively blocked access to the area to outsiders and news from the area from getting out.
Hundreds of protestors, fearing police brutality and imprisonment, hid in the jungle. After
months of hiding and trekking by land, a small number of these Hmong have arrived in
Thailand. BPSOS has conducted interviews with many of them to reconstruct what had
happened.
According to Vietnam’s 2009 national census, there were slightly over a million Hmongliving in Vietnam, mostly in the country’s Northwest Mountainous region. In recent
decades an increasing number of Hmong have converted to Christianity. The Vietnamese
government has made it a national priority to stem the spread of Christianity in the region.
While the Prime Minister’s Directive 01/2005/CT-TTg, “Special Instructions Regarding
Protestantism,” ostensibly declares the end of forced renunciation, in reality the authorities
simply call that by a different name: “encouraging the return to traditional beliefs” as stated
in the 2007 revision of the Central Bureau of Religious Affairs’ “Training Document:
Concerning the Task of the Protestant Religion in the Northern Mountainous Region.” In
another leaked document issued in 2007 (TL2007), the Central Bureau of Religious Affairscalled for “resolutely overcom[ing] the abnormal and spontaneous growth of
Protestantism” and “propagandiz[ing] and mobiliz[ing] the people to safeguard and
promote good traditional beliefs of ethnic minorities” (page 32, TL2007).
The governments of the three Northern provinces Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien have
been the most aggressive in carrying out this national policy. According to Father Nguyen
Van Khai, a Redemptorist who did missionary work in those provinces, there is no Catholic
or Protestant church permitted to function. From time to time, Catholic and Protestant
clergy members from outside have visited Hmong villages in these provinces to conduct
prayers, baptism, and other religious activities, but they must do so secretly, disguised ascommon people and coming and going under the cover of night.
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Persecuti
F
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h
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a
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a
a
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on of Hmong
ather Nguyen
10.
ccording to
ad ever met
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n Belief an
plementin
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rganizations
eed to notif
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urches are
hich has na
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rocess for u
s we could
April 200
plications
t the US-Vi
hen present
d resolutio
nt troops i
onverted to
overnment
e demonstr
rom missio
llowing me
- Arres
Christians a
Van Khai con
Father Kha
in their live
OS publicizce 2005 to
Religion, p
the Ordina
IV, Provisi
with nation
their respe
re October
may official
all affiliated
ional legal
ies required
affiliated r
erify, only
, the gover
ubmitted b
etnam hum
ed with the
high priori
to raze flat
rotestantis
ent in troop
tors.
aries and as
asures used
s and deten
d Muong Nh
ucting a secre
, for many
s.
ed a list of egister for
romulgated
nce on Beli
on 20 of the
al legal rec
tive local
15 of each
ly conduct
with the E
ecognition
that these h
ligious org
4 registrati
ment indefi
these Hmo
n rights dia
aid list, the
ty. Nothin
an entire vil
, which pr
s and the po
ylum seeke
by the gove
ion of men,
e Incident, B
t mass for Hm
mong Cat
71 Hmongeligious act
on Novemb
f and Relig
decree spe
gnition nee
eople’s Co
ear. If the l
heir religio
angelical C
tatus. Ho
ouse church
nizations.
n applicati
itely suspe
ng house ch
ogue held i
Vietnames
happened.
lage (Xa N
mpted a m
lice mobile
s, we have
rnment to ta
resulting in
PSOS 01/24/
ong Catholics
olics he wa
Protestant hivities acco
er 15, 2004,
ion (22/200
ifies that a
d not regist
mittees of
ocal People
s activities.
urch of Vi
ever, when
es must go
o they wen
ns were ap
ded its con
urches.
Washingt
delegation
Thirteen m
Khua) wh
ss demonst
unit to bruta
obtained fir
rget Hmon
Hmong vil
12
in a Northern
s the first C
ouse churchding to Vie
and the De
/ND-CP) is
filiates of re
r their activ
heir planne
’s Committ
The said
tnam North
they follow
hrough the
t through th
roved, and
sideration o
n DC in No
promised to
onths later,
se residents
ation in ear
lly and fatal
t-hand repo
Christians:
ages with f
Page 2
province, Ma
tholic pries
es that hadnam’s Ordi
ree on
sued March
ligious
ities; they o
religious
es do not o
mong hous
(ECVN-N
d this decr
egistration
e process.
only for on
f registratio
vember 200
give its rev
he govern
had all bee
ly May 201
ly crackdo
rts of the
w male adu
of 10
ch 24,
t they
ance
1,
ly
ject in
rth),
e, the
s far
year.
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iew
ent
. The
n on
lts
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Persecution of Hmong Christians and Muong Nhe Incident, BPSOS 01/24/12 Page 3 of 10
- Public transportation denied to Hmong Christians so as to block them from
attending mass in near-by towns
- Prohibiting clergy members from visiting Hmong villages
- Confiscation of farm land
- Destruction of homes
- Forced renunciation of their faith
- Forced abortion
Some Hmong had to leave their villages and migrate to other areas, including in the South.
Even so, they continue to be targeted by the local authorities with arbitrary confiscation of
farm land, disruption of religious services, forced renunciation, and different forms of
discrimination.
Despite the government’s many attempts to curb it, Christianity continues to spread rapidly
among the Hmong and other ethnic minorities living in Vietnam’s mountainous regions.
According to BBC, Vietnamese language programming, on April 5, 2011, the border patrol
forces reported on its website (bienphong.cm.vn) that the Vàng Chứ (God) religion
(Christianity) was spreading rapidly in border regions of Dien Bien.
The mass demonstration of May 2011 in Muong Nhe District, Dien Bien Province
On January 28, 2011, the government sent military troops with order to raze all the homes
and take over all the farm land in the Hmong village of Xa Na Khua, Ban Nam Nhu, Huyen
Muong Nhe, Dien Bien Province. Listed among the 671 Hmong Protestant churches that
have tried to register, mostly unsuccessfully, for government approval of their religious
activities, the village is home to over a hundred households, all Protestant. The authoritiestold the villagers that Protestantism was an American religion and since they refused to
renounce their faith, they had no place in Vietnam: “You should go to America to till
America’s land and follow America’s religion.” The government sent workers in to bring
down the homes, starting with those at the entrance of the village. They suspended work
after having demolished 13 homes.
After the Lunar New Year, on March 15 they came back to finish their job. Villagers who
took pictures of the demolition of their homes were arrested. The villagers asked the
authorities on site, “where do we go now?” and were told “wherever but not here.”
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Persecuti
T
on of Hmong
roops ready to
overnment wo
hat’s left of th
Christians a
enforce gover
rkers demolis
e Hmong villa
d Muong Nh
nment order t
ing homes in
gers’ homes.
e Incident, B
raze the enti
a Na Khua.
PSOS 01/24/
e Hmong vill
12
ge of Xa Na
Page 4
hua, Jan 28, 2
of 10
011.
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Persecuti
t
p
l
da
d
d
d
p
t
s
at
l
k
T
on of Hmong
he villagers
Hmong co
olicy of per
en, women
istrict, som
cal govern
emonstrator d a stop to
emonstrator
irectly to ea
emonstrator
ictures and
n May 3, h
e demonstr
atement fro
d go home.e demonstr
n May 5, th
ne Hmong
unched an
ccording to
illed with c
ousands of H
Christians a
decided to
munities i
ecution aga
and childre
coming fr
ent and pol
s explainedthe confisca
s that their
ch petitione
. Sometime
eturned the
ndreds of tr
tors. On
Prime Mi
It was sootors.
e mobile po
oman was
ll-out assau
eye-witness
nfirmation
mong demonst
d Muong Nh
emonstrate
other prov
inst Hmong
, gathered i
m as far as
ice arrived
hat they wation of their
etitions wo
. For that p
s they kept
originals.
oops from t
ay 4, a heli
nister Nguy
followed
lice and mil
reportedly
lt against th
es, scores
rom their r
rators deman
e Incident, B
against the
inces, who
Christians.
n a location
Dak Lak an
nd asked f
nted to petifarm land a
ld be duly
urpose, the
he original
e military
opter flew
en Tan Dun
y a second
tary troops
ied of polic
demonstra
ere killed.
latives or e
ing end of lan
PSOS 01/24/
demolition
ere also ta
On May 1,
near Huoi
d Binh Phu
r the reaso
ion for thend their ho
onsidered a
authorities a
documents
nd the mob
ver the de
g ordering t
elicopter t
continued t
e beating. T
tors, using
e have co
e-witnesse
d confiscation
12
f their hom
geted by th
2011 thous
hon Villag
c in the So
s of the de
reedom toes. The aut
nd would b
sked for the
nd some ot
ile (anti-riot
onstrators,
e demonstr
at dropped
encircle th
he next day,
atons and e
piled a pa
.
and religious
Page 5
es. Words
governme
nds, includi
in Muong
th. On Ma
onstrations.
ractice theihorities tol
communic
ID paper o
er times th
) police enc
beaming a
ators to disb
certain liqui
e demonstra
May 6, the
ectric rods.
tial list of p
persecution.
of 10
ot out
t’s
ng
Nhe
2, the
The
faiththe
ated
each
y took
rcled
and
d on
tors.
troops
eople
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Persecuti
T
T
e
t
j
a
on of Hmong
roops readyin
roops encircli
he govern
scaped arres
eir resident
ngle. Man
fter months
Christians a
to move in, w
g the demonst
ent arrested
t were track
al address.
have since
of trekking
d Muong Nh
ith batons an
rators.
many demo
ed down in
Reportedly
been captur
hrough Lao
e Incident, B
electric rods
nstrators an
he followin
hundreds o
ed while a
s.
PSOS 01/24/
in hand.
d took them
g months b
demonstrat
umber succ
12
into custod
the police
ors hid the
essfully ma
Page 6
. Those w
ho now ha
selves in th
e it to Thai
of 10
o
ve
e
and
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Persecuti
D
m
a
p
c
r
S
1
hf
v
b
b
on of Hmong
emonstrators,
ilitary.
witness w
munition
ang, a resid
ho particip
lace. He ra
ompiled a p
latives or e
anh No Van
2/12/2011.
he govern
eld police brication.
illagers fro
embers of t
y the distric
lame on the
Christians a
including wo
o is now in
s he ran aw
ent of Thon
ted in the
away and
rtial list of
e-witnesse
g was shot
ent-controll
embers capn fact, on t
leaving th
he village p
police and
villagers w
d Muong Nh
en and childr
Thailand ha
ay from his
Mong Phon
ay demonst
as shot dea
mong arre
.
ead as he t
ed media cl
ive. A witat day the d
village an
lice walke
taken away.
o could not
e Incident, B
n, trying to e
s reported t
hiding plac
g, Xa Cu P
ration, saw
d by the pol
sted and det
ied to escap
imed that t
ess that weistrict polic
joining the
into the vil
The gover
have left th
PSOS 01/24/
cape the brut
at the polic
. We have
i, Huyen K
police mem
ice on Dece
ained with
e from bein
e villagers
talked to deimposed a
demonstrat
lage in civil
ment then
eir homes d
12
l assault by th
e shot at hi
received rep
ala Bong, D
ers approa
mber 12, 20
onfirmatio
g captured
n one villa
scribed this9pm curfe
on. At aro
ian clothes,
wisted the
e to the cu
Page 7
e mobile polic
with live
ort that San
ak Lak Prov
hing his hi
11. We ha
from their
y the police
e captured
as pureto block th
nd 11pm s
they were a
acts and pla
few.
of 10
e and
h No
ince
ing
e
,
nd
veral
rested
ced the
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Persecution of Hmong Christians and Muong Nhe Incident, BPSOS 01/24/12 Page 8 of 10
Documentary videos and photos of the crackdown available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_gleadjG7c&feature=g-
upl&context=G2fdc004AUAAAAAAAAAA
Partial List of Hmong Christians killed at the May 2011 Demonstration
1) Thao A Phu (Born 1982)
2) Thao A Hau
3) Giang Thi Sau (April 12, 1985)
4) Ham Ca Ri
5) Sung Seo Chua (June 15, 1979)
6) Giang Thi Xua
7) Giang Din Cong
8) Cu Seo Phong (Sep 1975)
9) Giang Pao Cha (Nov 1964)
10) Vang Thi Sau
11) Thao Seo Lu
12) Thao Seo Phu (1989)
13) Pang
14) Cu A Pao (July 15, 1980)
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Persecution of Hmong Christians and Muong Nhe Incident, BPSOS 01/24/12 Page 9 of 10
Partial List of Hmong Christians in Detention in the Aftermath of the May 2011
Demonstration
1) Vang A Thang
2) Giuong Van Dau
3) Cu A Pao (1980)
4) Vang Seo Phu (1978)
5) Thao Seo Luu (1983)
6) Thao Dung Khai (Xa Na Bung, Muong Nhe)
7) Trang Nha Cho
8) Cu Seo Vang
9) Sung Seo Hoa (1992)
10) Sung A Tua (1984)
11) Giang Seo Si (1979)
12) Vang Seo Thang (1985)
13) Giang A Sung (Xa Na Bung, Muong Nhe)
14) Ho Sai Hua (Ban La San, Moong, Tong, Muong Nhe)15) Chang Bang Se (Ban Chuyen Gia, Nom Ke, Muong Nhe)
16) Sung Seo Vang
17) Ly Seo Du (1962)
18) Ly Seo Vang (1981)
19) Ly Seo De (1986)
20) Giang A Vang
21) Giang A Hu
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Persecution of Hmong Christians and Muong Nhe Incident, BPSOS 01/24/12 Page 10 of 10
For further reading:
http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/05/17/vietnam-investigate-crackdown-hmong-unrest
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-12/vietnam-detains-protesters-following-ethnic-hmong-
border-unrest.html
http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=4197