Socialist Republic of Vietnam

DAC LAC — Dac Lac authorities have told US diplomats the leader of the group the Vietnamese Government blames for the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) disturbance had planned the event carefully.

"On April 9, one day before the out-break of the disturbances, the US-based Montagnard Fund, with Ksor Kok at the helm, reported that 150,000 local residents would take part in the demonstration," the chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Lang, told Noah Zaring from the US Embassy in Ha Noi, and Marc Forino, from the US Consulate General in HCM City.

The officials met on Monday in Buon Ma Thuot city, where 16 days earlier, mainly E De ethnic minority people had marched in protest.

Lang said the events of April 10 were immediately followed by a propaganda campaign demanding that an "independent Dega" state be set up and the Kinh ethnic people driven from the Tay Nguyen.

"Misled by the hostile forces, participants used weapons to plunder local residents’ roadside houses and attack public employees on duty," the two US officials were told.

" It was a pity that several major news agencies based their reports on distorted information - especially incorrect numbers of participants, deaths and injuries," Lang said.

"Ethnic minority people were told that they would be given land and houses and be sent to the US if they took part in the demonstration," the Dac Lac chairman said.

He stressed that Jesus Christ had never told his disciples to cheat other people and that religions were all dedicated to guiding people to do good not evil.

A video film was screened for the two American diplomats showing developments on April 10. Banners demanding the "formation of an independent Dega state" under "President Ksor Kok" and urging the pullout of the "Kinh ethnic people and police from Tay Nguyen" were seen, proving, said Lang, that the event was nothing but a separatist anti-Viet Nam move triggered by Ksor Kok.

"The film also proved that Western reports describing the event as a non-violent demonstration were wrong."

Lang said more than 10 saboteurs were arrested for attacks on police and other public employees, and for stealing local residents’ property.

"They will be released if investigation fails to find evidence they broke the law, as stipulated by the Criminal Code."

Lang said he appreciated a US statement which said Washington did not support nor abet the plots and moves of the exiled separatist forces. He said he would like the two American diplomats to study the event and understand the truth behind it.

Zaring reiterated the US Government’s recognition of, and support for, Viet Nam, and said his Government did not back plots by any organisation or individual to oust the Vietnamese Government. However, he admitted, misunderstandings sometimes occurred.

"Our current visit to Dac Lac is a fact-finding trip," Zaring said, adding that a true picture of the situation could not be found through the internet only. —VNS