This also requires local authorities at all levels, especially in complex and sensitive areas, to continue to closely monitor their localities; and for all segments of the population to constantly maintain vigilance, not allowing themselves to be lured or drawn into activities that violate the law , undermine the government, or harm national unity.
Founded in 2011, the terrorist organization "Montagnard Support Group, Inc." (MSGI) is led by Y Mut Mlô and Y Duen Bdăp (formerly members of the "Montagnard Foundation - MFI" in the United States). Operating through violent methods, the "Montagnard Support Group" aims to recruit members domestically, train them in operational methods, incite protests and armed riots; provide funding, weapons, and equipment; and direct terrorist attacks, killing officials and civilians, and destroying state and private property. The group's goal is to demand secession and autonomy, establishing a "Dega State" in the Central Highlands. According to the investigation by the authorities, after establishing the organization, Y Mut Mlô (born in 1960 in Dak Lak) used Facebook to propagate and entice H'Wuêñ Êban to join the group, assigning Êban the task of commanding and forming an armed group called "Khan Ðêga" ("Ðega Soldiers"). The group quickly built and developed its forces, found a base in Dak Lak, prepared weapons, and recruited members; they contacted and met with individuals selected by Y Mut Mlô to entice them to join the organization. Furthermore, they intensified efforts to encourage members to contribute money to purchase weapons and train in martial arts in preparation for terrorist attacks. In April 2023, after a period of preparation, the "Montagnard Support Group" met and agreed to have the "Dega Soldiers" attack government offices, killing officials and civilians to create instability in the area; at the same time, they sent Y Sol Nie from the United States to infiltrate Vietnam to directly command the operation. In the early morning of June 11, 2023, the perpetrators split into two groups, armed with numerous weapons, and attacked the People's Committee offices of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes (in Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province), killing four police officers; one commune Party Secretary, one commune People's Committee Chairman, and three civilians; injuring two commune police officers; kidnapping three civilians; and burning and destroying property belonging to the People's Committee and residents, causing damage exceeding 2.5 billion VND. In June 2023, the police initiated legal proceedings and temporarily detained two individuals; and issued arrest warrants for five other individuals who were members of the "Montagnard Support Group" organization on charges of "Terrorism against the people's government" and "Terrorism" (according to Articles 113 and 299 of the 2015 Penal Code, as amended in 2017). In January 2024, the People's Court of Dak Lak province tried the case and sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from 9 years to life imprisonment.
Established eight years after the "Montagnard Support Group," the "Montagnard Stand for Justice" (MSFJ) organization was founded in July 2019 in Thailand by Y Quynh Bdap, Y Phik Hdok, Y Pher Hdrue, Y Aron Êban, H' Sarina Krong, H' Tlun Bdap, Y Ruing Knul, and H Mla Hdruẽ , and has been operating in the US since April 2023. This organization has caused great concern among many people because its leaders are all young and volatile: for example, Y Quynh Bdap was born in 1992; Y Phik Hdok, born in 1993, H' Biăp Krông, born in 1987, and Y Aron Êban, born in 1985, chose violent methods. Immediately upon its launch, the "Montagnards for Justice" group intensified its propaganda activities, recruiting members, assigning tasks, and training them in operational methods. They also funded and directed the purchase of weapons and equipment, carrying out terrorist attacks, killing officials and civilians, and destroying state and private property in order to establish a "separate state" in the Central Highlands. In August 2023, Vietnamese authorities issued an indictment and arrest warrant for Y Quynh Bdap, a member of the terrorist organization "Montagnards for Justice," on charges of "Terrorism" under Article 299 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017). In January 2024, the People's Court of Dak Lak province tried the case of "Terrorism against the people's government; terrorism; organizing illegal exit and entry for others; concealing crimes" that occurred in Cu Kuin district on June 11, 2023, and sentenced Y Quynh Bdap to 10 years in prison. At the trial, the defendants all publicly admitted that the indictment accurately reflected their criminal acts, and expressed remorse and regret, apologizing to the victims and hoping for leniency and a reduced sentence from the Court.
Based on irrefutable evidence, the Ministry of Public Security's announcement affirms that the "Montagnard Support Group" and "Montagnards for Justice" are terrorist organizations. Therefore, anyone who participates in, propagates, incites, or supports the "Montagnard Support Group" or "Montagnards for Justice"; participates in training courses; or acts under the direction of these organizations commits the crimes of "terrorism" and "financing terrorism" and will be prosecuted according to Vietnamese law. The Ministry of Public Security's announcement, widely disseminated through mass media, has received widespread support from the public, especially in the two communes of Ea Tiêu and Ea Ktur (in Cư Kuin district, Đắk Lắk province), where the massacre took place in the early morning of June 11th. More than anyone else, the people here deeply feel the heartbreaking and tragic consequences that these terrorist organizations have inflicted on their compatriots.
However, with their extremist and reactionary nature, hostile and reactionary forces immediately launched attacks criticizing the Ministry of Public Security's announcement, condemning the government, distorting the facts, claiming that these were merely two "dissenting" groups overseas being "retaliated against" by the Vietnamese government, and continuing to accuse Vietnam of violating human rights and religious freedom with illogical arguments. Simultaneously, the "Montagnard Support Group" and "Montagnards for Justice" vehemently denied their responsibility for the shooting in the two communes of Ea Ktur and Ea Tiêu in Dak Lak on June 11th, fabricating stories that the Vietnamese government was trying to "steal land from the Montagnards" and "suppress Montagnards fighting for freedom." Deliberately ignoring the evidence collected by the investigating agency, as well as the testimony of the perpetrators themselves, a representative of "Montagnards for Justice" still tried to justify that their organization was merely "a small civil society organization peacefully fighting for human rights, religious freedom, and land for indigenous people in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and completely non-confrontational." This person argued that the organization's activities always "respect human rights, respect national and international law, and there is absolutely no intention to establish a separate state in the Central Highlands, nor any connection to the 'Montagnard Support Group' as accused by the Vietnamese government." Some even deliberately tried to steer the June 11th incident in Dak Lak towards the point where "people are also dissatisfied with the regime, religion, and culture, and there are cases where the Kinh people or the regime discriminate against indigenous people." A co-founder of the "Montagnards for Justice" organization fabricated the claim that: "The reason the government hates MSFJ is because they have written many reports on violations for the international community, so they hate them, they want to eliminate members of the group, so they have fabricated charges and want to carry out their human rights violations."
Even more brazenly, Y Duen Bdăp – identified by the Ministry of Public Security as one of the leading members of the terrorist organization "Montagnard Support Group" – brazenly declared: "Our organization is non-violent. The Vietnamese government is a terrorist organization; they steal our land and murder our people." At the same time, Y Duen Bdăp stubbornly asserted: "I fight for human rights and our right to live on the land where we were born. We have lived here for thousands of years, even before Jesus, before the Kinh people arrived." Similarly, Y Quynh Bdap – a founding member of "Montagnards for Justice" – stated that he was "slandered" and accused of "terrorism," and that his group operates peacefully in the religious sphere and demands human rights for the indigenous Montagnards in Vietnam. Y Quynh Bdap is also the person who directs the thorough exploitation of social media to contact and incite uninformed people in the country to commit violations of the law, refuse to cooperate with the government, cause insecurity and disorder, and undermine the regime. When strictly dealt with by the authorities according to the law, this organization loudly accuses Vietnam of discrimination and oppression against ethnic minorities. While boasting about fighting for the Montagnards, Y Quynh Bdap and his organization frequently cause instability within the Montagnard community. On the other hand, they use the term "indigenous ethnic group" to lobby and gain support from countries and international organizations for their own benefit, to oppose the Party and State, to divide national unity, and to lower Vietnam's prestige on the international stage.
The Ministry of Public Security's designation of the "Montagnard Support Group" and "Montagnards for Justice" as terrorist organizations, along with the identification of their leaders and the methods and tactics used by these organizations, is extremely timely. Local authorities, especially in complex and sensitive areas, need to continue monitoring their territories, promptly detecting signs of instability to take appropriate measures to address and prevent it. At the same time, based on the information provided, citizens need to be vigilant, recognize and be cautious, and avoid being drawn into the subversive activities of these organizations. This demonstrates the resolute stance of the Party and State against organizations and individuals who conspire to carry out sinister schemes that harm national interests, undermine the regime, and hinder the country's development: they will be severely punished according to Vietnamese and international law.
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