Persecuting “Evil Way”: Religion Abuses against Montagnards in Vietnam

Legal mechanisms for Vietnamese government control over religion were increased in January 2013 when the government promulgated Decree 92, which prohibits “manipulation of freedom of belief and religion” to “conduct propaganda against the state” or “undermine … national unity.” This persecution is driving Christians from Montagnard ethnic minorities to seek asylum in neighboring Cambodia and in Thailand. Vietnamese authorities have responded by preventing people from leaving Vietnam and pressuring Cambodian authorities to prevent
border crossings and deny those who do cross the right to seek asylum.