WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a powerful and harrowing testimony before a human rights committee today, Y Phic Hdok, a Montagnard indigenous Christian and co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice (MSFJ), accused the highest levels of the Vietnamese government of directing a systematic campaign of violence and "transnational repression" against religious minorities.
Hdok’s testimony directly linked the escalating crackdown to the political ascension of General Secretary To Lam, who previously served as the Minister of Public Security.
The "To Lam" Era: A 22-Month Reign of Terror
According to Hdok, the shift in Vietnam's leadership has triggered an aggressive assault on unregistered house churches in the Central Highlands. "The situation is more dire than ever," Hdok stated, reporting a pattern of arbitrary arrests and interrogations targeting those who refuse to renounce their faith.
The testimony highlighted several specific cases of religious leaders recently handed "broad and vague" prison sentences:
• Nay Y Blang: Sentenced to 4.5 years in January 2024.
• Y Krec Bya: Sentenced to 13 years in March 2024.
• Y Thinh Nie: Sentenced to 9 years in May 2025.
Hdok also brought forward the suspicious death of Preacher Y Bum Bya, who was found dead in a cemetery in March 2024, just hours after being summoned to meet with security police officers.
A Legacy of Sacrifice and Exile
Hdok shared the personal tragedy that forced him into advocacy. In 2016, while he was in Thailand for human rights training, Vietnamese authorities kidnapped and extrajudicially killed his father in a brutal attempt to coerce Hdok's return.
"I understood then that I could not pursue my calling in my homeland," said Hdok, who fled to Thailand to seek UNHCR protection and later co-founded MSFJ to advocate for the rights of Montagnard Christians.
Transnational Threats: The Reach of VTV and MSFJ Designation
A significant portion of the hearing focused on the Vietnamese government’s efforts to target activists beyond its borders. In March 2024, MSFJ was officially designated a terrorist organization by Hanoi—a move Hdok argues is used to justify the pursuit of peaceful advocates worldwide.
He specifically cited the November 28, 2025, extradition of MSFJ co-founder Y Quynh Bdap from Thailand as a critical failure of international protection. Hdok also warned that the state-run media outlet VTV is operating as a propaganda arm for the Ministry of Public Security, with agents active in the United States.
"On December 29, 2025, VTV aired a fabricated 'confession' from Y Quynh Bdap. This is a staged tool used to justify increased persecution," Hdok warned.
Urgent Calls for International Action Hdok concluded his testimony with four direct recommendations for the international community:
1. Direct Accountability: Hold General Secretary To Lam and the Ministry of Public Security responsible for human rights violations.
2. Protect MSFJ & Refugees: Call for immediate security for MSFJ members and robust UNHCR protection for Montagnard refugees in Thailand to prevent further extralegal extraditions.
3. Safety Monitoring: Ensure the safety of Y Quynh Bdap in prison and protect his family.
4. Visa Reform: Urge stricter vetting for media visa applicants from state-run Vietnamese outlets to prevent state agents from operating on U.S. soil.
"The risk to our community is immediate and imminent," Hdok concluded. "The world cannot look away."
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