Persecuted Tribes of Laos and Vietnam Tell Their Stories Through YouTube

YouTube has now become the way through which indigenous people in forests of Laos and Vietnam letting the world know how they are being persecuted by their respective governments.

AlertNet blogger Amy Hutt, who has reported on human rights issues in South East Asia, Australia and South America, writes about how the Hmong and the Montagnards are reaching out to the world through technology.

Hmong who live in jungles of Laos, claim that the government is persecuting them and treating them like enemies for their supposed relation with the rebels who fought against the communist regime forty years back.

A video has now surfaced on YouTube which shows a 10 years old Hmong boy whose stomach is cut open, with internal organs showing. He was attacked by government forces while searching for food. He died two days without getting any medical care.

The report also talks about a video posted by The Montagnard Foundation, which shows the Montagnard people being tortured, beaten up by the Vietnamese government forces. Although they have given up violence and disbanded their separatist campaign, the Montagnards are still facing serious government actions, the report estimates that 350 are in prison. Most accused of seeking asylum to neighboring Cambodia or being active in religious activities.

The Hmong

According to data provided by Wikipedia, China has the largest Hmong population in the world, 3million. In Laos there are 320,000 Hmongs and in Vietnam there are 790,000.It is said that the CIA recruited Hmong men in Laos to fight the "US Secret War" in the country in early 1960s.

After the war ended, the Hmong were targeted by communist regime and faced retaliation. Many fled to Thailand and other countries seeking refuge.

The Montagnards

According to the "Save The Montagnard People" website, the Montagnards are now facing political, economic as well as cultural retaliation from the Vietnamese government. Their language cannot be taught in schools, and books written their tribal languages were all burnt after 1975.

Montagnard farmers are not allowed to use the public irrigation system which affects their crop production and income level. They are also denied medical care and other facilities other villagers receive from the government.

They are also facing religious persecution, many of their churches were forcibly closed down, some vandalized. The government even arrested preachers and forced them to worship only in "approved" churches.

Sources:

Alertnet. URL(http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/33704/2007/05/15-153839-1.htm)

Wikipedia. URL:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmong_people)

Montahnards. URL:(http://www.montagnards.org/cultural.cfm)