CSW Accuses Vietnam of Politicizing and Demonizing Religious Worship

Vietnam Government Faces Accusations Over Treatment of Religious Groups

Allegations have emerged against the Vietnamese government for allegedly attempting to “politicise and demonise” the practice of religion, particularly among its ethnic minority citizens. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has raised concerns about the recent governmental actions targeting religious groups.

The claims follow reports from Major General Le Quang Nhan, Director of Gia Lai Provincial Police. During a meeting with Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Major Nhan disclosed that 119 Christians in Gia Lai Province had been investigated and subjected to legal processes.

Additionally, two criminal cases have been initiated against four individuals, accusing them of affiliations with the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races (FULRO) and what the Vietnamese authorities refer to as “De Ga Protestantism”.

Originally formed in the 1960s, FULRO represented Vietnam’s ethnic minorities, including the Montagnards of the Central Highlands, many of whom are Protestant. The Vietnamese government classifies FULRO as a terrorist organization, akin to how the British government perceived the IRA during The Troubles.

Despite the government’s stance, the threat posed by FULRO has been largely considered obsolete since the group’s last armed camp surrendered to UN peacekeepers in Cambodia in 1992.

“De Ga Protestantism” is a label used by the government for groups that blend Protestant practices with FULRO’s political aspirations, such as greater autonomy for ethnic minorities. According to CSW, this term is often seen as derogatory and serves to “delegitimise the religious practice of ethnic and religious minorities by characterising them as a threat to national security”.

Mervyn Thomas, founder and president of CSW, stated, “Vietnam is increasingly becoming one of the most repressive states when it comes to persecuting and prosecuting religious groups.

“Branding religious communities as De Ga or FULRO is an unabashed attempt to politicise and demonise lawful religious activity – we are not fooled.

“The Vietnamese government must be held to account for its ongoing assault on the right to freedom of religion or belief and other fundamental freedoms.”