Montagnard community in U.S. protests visit of Vietnamese delegates

The official visit of a group of Vietnamese delegates to Greensboro, North Carolina, sparked “uproar” among the immigrant community from the Highlands of Viet Nam, who often refer to themselves as Montagnards.

The protests are related to reports – including those issued by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom – of widespread human rights violations in Viet Nam, particularly impacting the Highlanders.

The delegation meanwhile, insisted that there is freedom of religion and respect for human rights in Viet Nam, and that those who have been arrested have been allied to groups promoting violent uprisings.

Neither side apparently had any desire for face-face meetings. Delegates turned down the opportunity to visit areas with significant Asian immigrant communities, calling them “security risks,” and leaders among the Highlanders denounced the idea of meeting as a photo opportunity for the delegates.

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