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DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

On April 10-11, 2004, a Vietnamese minority group's demonstration was crushed with brutal force by the Vietnamese government authorities. In the Central Highlands region of Vietnam thousands of ethnic minority people, known as Montagnards, many of whom are Christians, held peaceful protests, calling for long-standing land and religious freedom issues in the region to be addressed. According to Human Rights Watch and other independent sources, at least 10 people were killed, and a large number of protesters were injured or arrested by the authorities during the protests. For the last three years, the Vietnamese government has put restrictions on freedom of movement, communication, and religious practices in the region.

If you wish to address your concern, please write to:

President Tran Duc Luong
Office of the President
35 Ngo Quyen Hoan Hoa Tham
Ha Noi, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Fax: + 84-82-31-872 and +84-80-44-940

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai
Office of the Prime Minister
35 Ngo Quyen Hoan Hoa Tham
Ha Noi, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Fax: + 84-82-31-872 and +84-80-44-940

• Transnational Radical Party (April 10, 2004)
  web.radicalparty.org/pressreview/print_right.php?func=detail&par=9530
• BBC News Article (April 11, 2004)
  news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3617305.stm
• Amnesty International's Report (April 28, 2004)
  web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa410052004
• Human Rights Watch (April 14, 2004)
  www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/04/14/vietna8430.htm
• Human Rights Watch (April 22, 2004)
  www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/04/22/vietna8478.htm