Vietnam: Treatment of Hmong people by the Vietnamese government
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 September 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | VNM35233.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Vietnam: Treatment of Hmong people by the Vietnamese government, 27 September 2000, VNM35233.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bec54.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Ethnic Groups Worldwide, the Hmong are one of three non-Highlander minorities numbering approximately 300,000 ( 1998, 300). The Ottawa Citizen reported that the Hmong, along with other tribal groups from the mountainous areas in the north, make up at least "two thirds of Vietnam's estimated 800,000 Protestants" (30 Apr. 2000), and The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom estimates that there are approximately 700,000 Protestants in Vietnam, "with more than half of these persons belonging to a large number of unregistered evangelical 'house churches' ... many of them in ethnic minority areas" (5 Sept 2000).
While the Constitution and the government of Vietnam allow freedom of worship, it is reported that these rights are circumscribed in practice (Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 5 Sept. 2000; HRW May 2000; The Washington Times 3 Aug. 1999; The Ottawa Citizen 30 Apr. 2000). Religious groups are required to register and The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom writes that the government recognized "six official religious bodies: one each for Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hoa Hoa, Cao Dai, and Muslim believers" (5 Sept. 2000).
The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom (5 Sept. 2000) and a May 2000 Human Rights Watch report, Vietnam: The Silencing of Dissent, both detail the treatment of Hmong Protestant religious leaders and followers. According to the former:
The authorities in the northwest provinces severely restrict the religious freedom of evangelical Protestants, including ethnic Hmong and ethnic Tai. Credible reports from multiple sources stated that at the beginning of 1999, there were more than 25 Hmong Protestants imprisoned primarily in Lai Chau province for "teaching religion illegally" or "abusing the rights of a citizen to cause social unrest." Following protests by church leaders and international attention to the detentions, officials and Protestant church leaders stated that most of the detainees had been released by the end of 1999 (5 Sept. 2000).
The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom writes that four Hmong Protestant leaders who had been arrested in late 1999 were still believed to be imprisoned and, according to an unconfirmed report, a Hmong Christian died in prison in 1999 "from mistreatment and lack of medical care in detention" (ibid.).
The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom also details instances of harassment of Hmong Protestants in the form of police raids on private homes during private worship or Bible study, arbitrary detention, the destruction of Protestant churches, possible cases of extortion by local officials, and fines and punishment meted out by local officials for participation in Bible studies and worship (5 Sept. 2000). The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom reports that, according to "credible sources", Hmong Protestants in "several northwestern villages were forced by local officials to recant their faith" (ibid.).
Human Rights Watch reports that:
The government has also made efforts to suppress Protestants through police raids, surveillance, and negative propaganda, particularly as increasing numbers of ethnic minorities have joined evangelical churches in the northern and central highlands. Reports have been received of persecution and harassment of Hmong Protestants in Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Ha Giang provinces (May 2000).
The Washington Times, citing a World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission report, states that the Hmong are among those "most persecuted for conversion to Christianity" resulting in the flights of 8,000 to 10,000 Hmong Christians to Vietnam's south central highlands (3 Aug. 1999; The Ottawa Citizen 30 Apr. 2000).
The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom notes that the "government's repression of Hmong is complicated by several factors that include religious practices" and government questioning of the Hmong's "civic-loyalty" (5 Sept. 2000).
In a letter to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Executive Director of Hmong International Human Rights Watch alleged that the Hmong, because of their connections to the CIA during the Vietnam War, have been targeted in "an ongoing genocidal campaign" which is being carried out jointly by the Laos and Vietnam governments (22-28 July 2000).
Further reports suggest that the Vietnamese government has been involved in actions against the Hmong in neighbouring Laos (AFP 2 June 2000; The Nation 2 Aug. 2000; DPA 5 June 2000). DPA reported that Vientiane, Laos-based Western diplomats alleged that the Vietnamese government was assisting the Laotian government in "putting down an internal rebellion" involving Hmong minorities in Laos' north (5 June 2000). According to this source, Western diplomats had seen Vietnamese troops on the streets of Vientiane and other sources reported seeing "civilians wounded from gunfire in Xiang Khouang province [Laos], which borders on Vietnam" (ibid.). The Laotian Ambassador to Hanoi and a Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Vietnam both denied these allegations (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP) [Hong Kong, in English]. 2 June 2000. "Vietnam Denies Troops in Laos to Quell Rebel Attacks." (FBIS-EAS-2000-0602 26 September 2000/WNC)
Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. September 2000. United States Department of State. Washington, D.C.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 5 July 2000. "Laos Envoy Denies Vietnam Intervention to Quell Rebellion." (NEXIS)
Hmong International Human Rights Watch [Chicago]. 22-28 July 2000. Letter from Executive Director, Xiong Chuhu, to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Working group on Indigenous Populations, Eighteenth Session.
Human Rights Watch. May 2000. Vietnam: The Silencing of Dissent.
Levinson, David H. 1998. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Arizona: The Oryx Press.
The Nation [Bangkok, in English]. 2 August 2000. "Exploseive Defused in Club opposite Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane." (FBIS-EAS-2000-0802 26 September 2000/WNC)
The Ottawa Citizen. 30 April 2000. Bob Harvey. "Conquering Fear with Faith." (NEXIS)
The Washington Times. 3 August 1999. "Vietnam's Illegal Christians." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Amnesty International Urgent Appeals File. Resource Centre.
Vietnam Country File. Resource Centre.
World Directory of Minorities. 1997.
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet Sites including:
Amnesty International
Hmong International Human Rights Watch [Chicago]
Hmongnet.org
Minorities at Risk Project
Working Group on Indigenous Populations, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission, Persecuted Church News
