|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1. What is the Montagnard Human Rights Organization and why was it
formed? MHRO is a membership
organization which was founded in 1998 by the former leaders of the
Montagnard Resistance Forces to explore peaceful
ways to improve the human rights for the Montagnards in the Central
Highlands of Vietnam, and to advocate for self-determination in
Vietnam. The Montagnard Human Rights Organization promotes the rights
and the
cultural heritage of the Montagnard people in the U.S., Europe,
Canada, Vietnam, and throughout the world, to live in freedom and
dignity,
sharing one heart and one vision. Rong Nay was the Assistant Commander of the Montagnard Resistance
Forces, also known as FULRO, in the jungles of Vietnam, Cambodia and
Thailand, from the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 until 1985. He currently
serves as the Executive Director of MHRO. He has provided direction,
commitment, and vision in leading the North Carolina Montagnard community
since 1986. 2. What is the Vision and the goals of MHRO? The
MHRO vision is peace and freedom for the Montagnards , the "Anak
CuChiang"(Children of the Mountains) and for all the citizens
of Vietnam to live in harmony with each other. The MHRO ultimate goal is to obtain support from the United Nations
and the international community, the people of the free world, and
from the government of Vietnam, to recognize the Montagnard legal right
of self-determination, the right to choose their own destiny according
to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Montagnard self-determination
and self-governance is the heritage of the Montagnard people. It is
the Montagnard birthright to live in peace and freedom on the ancient,
ancestral lands of the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
3. What about the Government of Vietnam? Are they not opposed to discussions
of self-determination? What about Vietnam's territorial integrity? Within Vietnam's ancient and proud history, there once was a rich
tradition of honoring the rights of the indigenous tribal people, in
both the north and the Central Highlands. The ancient Vietnamese dynasties
knew well the strategic importance of the tribes people and their ancestral
land. Vietnam now has a unique opportunity within its own borders and,
in the global community, to take a leadership role in truly protecting
and promoting the Montagnard indigenous people and their claim of self-determination.
Ho Chi Minh himself promised autonomy to the Montagnards. As other
indigenous peoples of the world slowly disappear or are assimilated,
Vietnam could, with vision and courage, take a stand on behalf of their
own indigenous people, assisting, not opposing, the Montagnards with
their legal framework for self-governance and taking action that would
ensure the distinctive race of Montagnard people survive, rather than
systematically destroying their own precious citizens through intentional
government policies. 4. Does MHRO only do human rights advocacy? No. The Montagnard Human Rights Organization has activities in two
areas: - To organize, promote, and provide resources for programs intended
to benefit the general welfare, and advance the rights of Montagnard
people living in the United States and in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam. MHRO is currently administering a grant from the U.S. Office
of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in providing immigration and family reunification
services to Montagnard refugees, services to elderly Montagnards, leadership
and community empowerment, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
focusing on Montagnard seniors and preparation for the U.S. citizenship
exam. - Advocating action by the United States government, Congress, the
United Nations and the international community to stop human rights
violations in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and to promote policies
with the government of Vietnam that will improve the living conditions
for the Montagnard people.
Bring to the attention of the United Nations, leaders of the free world,
all democratic countries and human rights organizations, the persecution
of the Montagnard people in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
5. What exactly is the difference between the Montagnard Foundation
(MFI) and Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO)? The two organizations have similar goals, but different strategies.
The Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO) uses only peaceful
means and non-violence in the spirit of international cooperation and
the rule of law as it carries out a long-term commitment and process
until the Vietnamese government recognizes the right Montagnard self-determination
and the right of the Montagnard people to choose their own destiny
with a legal framework for self-governance. Yes, the Montagnard
Human Rights Organization (MHRO) is a non-profit corporation organized
in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, in 1998, under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. MHRO is a public
charity Status, under Section 509 (a) (1) of the Internal Revenue
Code. Donations
are tax deductible as charitable contributions (the MHRO Federal
Tax ID No. 56-2111100). 6.
Does MHRO want to overthrow the Vietnamese government? No. MHRO has
no intention to de-stabilize, disrupt, harm, or cause fear within
the
country of Vietnam. MHRO is a non-military, non-violent
organization promoting human rights. However, MHRO is against the
Vietnamese government policies imposed on the Montagnard people.
Why do we have no rights to live as human beings? Why cannot we
worship our Christian faith freely? Why can't we receive humanitarian
aid
and development assistance like the other regions and the Kinh
people living in Vietnam? Why can't we have the same opportunities
in education
and development as Vietnamese people? Why can't we freely emigrate
and get our family members out of Vietnam? Why does the Vietnamese
government continue to consider the Montagnard people as an enemy
of war? Yet, the Vietnam War is over.
7.
I want to help or make a donation. What should I do? The Montagnard Human Rights Organization will gratefully accept your
donations! Our organization needs financial assistance in order to
serve the Montagnard people. Please feel free to send us a check in
the mail at any time. We also have many volunteer opportunities in
the area of: transportation, job referral and placement for new refugee
arrivals, immigration assistance, translation, friendly visits to our
Montagnard elders, cultural preservation projects including music and
cultural documentation, English language tutoring, human rights advocacy,
and administrative help. 8. If I
donate to MHRO, can I get a tax deduction? Yes, the Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO) is a non-profit
corporation organized in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, in 1998, under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. MHRO is a public charity
Status, under Section 509 (a) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations
are tax deductible as charitable contributions (the MHRO Federal Tax
ID No. 56-2111100 We will provide
a written receipt if requested. Donations may be sent by mail in
the form of check or money order to the following address: The Montagnard
Human Rights Organization
1720 Hillsborough St. Suite LL Two Raleigh, NC 27605
Tel: (919) 828-8185 Fax: (919) 828-8230.
9. What
is the Office of Refugee Resettlement ( ORR) grant that was awarded
to MHRO? MHRO was honored
to receive a $552,000 three-year grant award from ORR on September
30, 2003 to September 30, 2006, with the purpose to
provide services to the NC Montagnard community in the areas: Immigration
and Family Reunification, Elderly Services, Civic Education, Community
Organization, and ESL classes. For further information, please see
our web site's ORR program description. 10. I heard
that MHRO works with Immigration. In what way? The
Montagnard has taken a leadership role in advocating for
Montagnard Immigration
and Family
Reunification. From 9/30/2003 through June 02,
2005, MHRO has served: 94 I-730, 114 I-485 and 3 N-400. Drot Ksor is
MHRO’s Immigration and Family Reunification Specialist. Drot
works at the United Montagnard Christian Church located at 1204 Picard
Street, Greensboro, NC 27405, Tel: (336) 358-1400. On Fridays, he will
be in MHRO’s Raleigh office. 11.
What is MHRO’s
position on non-violence? MHRO continues our struggle with every peaceful means for the human
rights of the Montagnard people living in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam, to help them to develop their rightful potential and to live
in a free nation as all people of the world. 12. Does
MHRO cooperate closely with U.S. Veterans? The Montagnard
Human Rights Organization has been blessed to have several U.S. veterans
as sponsors and advisors of MHRO. We feel that the
Americans who served with our people in Vietnam during the war
years have a special sympathy, understanding, and commitment to the
aspirations
and survival of our people, in Vietnam and within the U.S.
13.
What does the term ”Montagnard” mean? What about “Dega” and
Degar” We have also seen the term “Anak Cu Chiang.”
"Montagnards" means
(mountaineers), or mountain people, a name given to us by the
French during the 19th century. Prior to 1800 for
centuries, the Montagnard people of the Central Highlands remained
isolated in their mountains, separate and apart from the lowland
culture. “Dega” is
a Rhade (Ede) dialect word with various interpretations as: "the
first" "the original" and the meaning derives from
Rhade legend. “Jarai robai” is from the Jarai tribal
legend. (It’s important to note that Ede/Rhade is sometimes
used interchangeably to indicate both tribe and the language attributed
to the tribe).
“Degar” is
a new term used by the Montagnard Foundation (MFI) and it hold
no distinctive meaning for other tribes. The common
and correct meaning for all Montagnard tribes is "Anak Cu
Chiang" which
means, "Children of the Mountains" or "Mountain
People." The
use of a single term to apply to all tribal groups has historical,
cultural and tribal sensitivity. For this reason, "Anak Cu
Chiang" is
a term which reflects respect and recognition of all the five major
tribal groups: Rhade, Jarai, Mnong, Koho and Bahnar.
14.
What is the future for the Montagnard people? For
over 156 years the Montagnard people in the Central
Highlands of Vietnam
have cherished a dream;
Montagnard autonomy, their own self-determination
in their own land, a place of peace, freedom and opportunity. Many
Montagnards have shared that dream, and have prayed that someday, somehow,
in God’s good time, it would find reality and live in peace with
Kinh people. The MHRO will continue to work with international organizations
and the U.S. in developing our legal framework for self-determination.
15. How
are Montagnards losing their culture in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam? The Central Highlands of Vietnam was a battleground for thirty years.
The Montagnard people were caught in the middle of the fighting and
became victims of the conflict. In this war, a million Montagnard people
were killed and eighty-five percent of Montagnard villages were destroyed
or abandoned. After the Vietnam War ended, peace did not return to the Montagnard
people. They received only retribution, persecution and contempt. Because
they were indigenous people, landowners and Christians, they were punished
publicly and discriminated against. They have suffered terribly. They have lost more than any other group in Vietnam: the right to
live, the right to own their ancestral lands, the right to have churches,
the right to attend local schools, and the right to operate traditional
courts. They are now in danger of losing their entire culture. Traditional
ways of life have been systematically abolished. The
Central Highlands is now a prison area for the Montagnard people.
They
are the victims
of “ethnic-cleansing”. The eyes of
the world need to focus on this critical problem. 16.
Why doesn’t the
Montagnard-American community unite, considering it seems in the
best interest for the community to come together? Over
156 years of rule by foreigners, and with a cruel and long war
until the
present time,
the Montagnard life has been extremely difficult.
Montagnard land has been taken by the Vietnamese government, our people
have experienced decades of contempt and discrimination, and they have
rarely known happiness or the opportunity to develop their lives. For
many of our people, we struggle with low self-esteem and we battle,
as most humans in the world, our egos and our need to be "victims" rather
than being responsible for our lives. When we Montagnards
came to US as refugees in a free country, we were free to enjoy our
own lives, sometimes with little consciousness or
care about the entire Montagnard community, and the fate of our people
in Vietnam. We cannot change everyone's life, but MHRO is committed
to giving our love and service to all our people. We believe that God
will turn the hearts of those Montagnards who do not stand united
and that
our future will bring a strong and active community.
|
