"REMEMBER THE MONTAGNARD PETITION TO PRESIDENT BUSH" has been inexplicably removed from the hosting website. WHY??
A few days ago - the actual hosting petition company http://www.ipetitions.com/contact.html reported this was the most visited petition on their website.
Why have they suddenly removed it?? Did the company recieve pressure to remove it?? or was it sabatoged by some virus? It has been suggested to me the US/Vietnam trade lobby or Vietnamese government may have pressured the closure of this website?? The company has not returned telephone calls or emails as to why???
For further info contact scottmfi@hotmail.com
Regards
Scott Johnson
Montagnard Foundation
See orignial petition below...
PLEASE NOTE THERE WAS SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE FIRST PETITION AND ANOTHER IS NOW BEING USED
CAN YOU DOUBLE CHECK YOUR SIGNATURE AND SIGN THE FOLLOWING ONE? (the new petition is exactly the same wording)
LINK: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Degar-Montagnard/Please review this petition to President Bush to Remember the Montagnards (President Bush will attend the Vietnam APEC summit in November 2006).
Your signature is needed to show that the Montagnards are not forgotten and that human rights are critical for Vietnam 's economic and social progress, in order to benefit all citizens of Vietnam . Feel free to pass this petition on to others.
OR SEE MONTAGNARD FOUNDATION WEBSITE: http://www.montagnard-foundation.org/homepage.html
Regards
Scott Johnson, Advisor Montagnard Foundation
PETITION TO PRESIDENT BUSH: REMEMBER THE MONTAGNARDS
To: President Of United States Of America
Hon. President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
This petition concerns the Montagnard Degar peoples of Vietnams Central Highlands, their desire for freedom and the role of the United States government in achieving such freedom for all citizens in Vietnam on the eve of your forthcoming visit to the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Vietnam this November 2006.
The petition recognizes that during the Vietnam War the indigenous Montagnard Degar Peoples were loyal allies to the United States and it is estimated that at any one time over 40,000 Montagnards served with their American brothers during that conflict. Upon taking over South Vietnam in 1975 the Hanoi government commenced persecution against the Montagnards that involved a decades long policy of land exploitation, Christian religious repression, torture, killings and imprisonment. In October 2006 the US State Department has continued to maintain Vietnam on the watch list of countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom and Montagnard House Church Christians report to us today they are still persecuted for their faith. To date over 350 Degar prisoners remain in Vietnamese prisons for standing up for human rights, for spreading Christianity or for fleeing to Cambodia while the entire Montagnard population faces repression by security forces.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, we the undersigned ask that you as representative of the United States , honor and remember the sacrifice the Montagnard Degar people made during the Vietnam War and that human rights for our people and all citizens of Vietnam are raised as a priority issue with the government of Vietnam during your visit to the APEC Summit. We ask that you use your influence to request Vietnam to release all of the estimated 350 Montagnard Degar Prisoners from Vietnamese prisons and establish a permanent solution to address indigenous lands rights and Christian house church persecution in order for progress to benefit all citizens of Vietnam .
Mr. President: Please Remember the Montagnards
Sincerely, The Undersigned
