Conventional Long Name: | Degar State |
Life Span: | 1999–present (government in exile) |
Event Start: | The Degar State was established |
Year Start: | 1999 |
P1: | Montagnard Foundation |
Flag P1: | Flag of Degar Montagnards.jpg |
Image Map Caption: | Territory disputed by the Degar State and the Vietnamese Government (red area). The pink area is Bình Phước province in the Southern Region which is also sometimes claimed. |
Capital: | Buôn Ma Thuột |
National Anthem: | Hlagru Dega[1] |
Common Languages: | VietnameseEnglishÊ Đêother native languages |
Religion: | Christianity and traditional religions |
Currency: | USD (formerly) |
Government Type: | self-proclaimed government and government in exile |
Leader1: | Y Duen Buondap |
Title Leader: | President |
Year Leader1: | 2020–2023 |
Degar State, also known as the movement Degar Central Highlands Organization (simply known as Degar Central Highlands; DCH), or also Degar Republic, is a former state and separatist political organization of indigenous minorities in the Central Highlands region with the idea of separating the ethnic minority area became an independent country led by Y Duen Buondap as president. Until now, the country has not received recognition from the United Nations and sovereign governments around the world.
According to the newspaper Capital Security, this organization is supported by the Montagnard Foundation, an organization that claims to be the government in exile of the Central Highlands people. This government was established in the United States led by Kok Ksor who was a member of the former organization FULRO. The organization has conducted a number of protest campaigns, distribute documents containing propaganda deemed to be contrary to the state policy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.[2] According to Vietnamese government-sponsored media, anti-sabotage activities also include propaganda, persuading and inciting some people to leave their homeland with the illusion of living as refugees abroad. At the same time, the organization is believed by the Vietnamese side to have carried out activities that divide national unity, divide religions, and destroy the peaceful life of Vietnamese people. During the rebellion, the Vietnamese government forces obtained many dangerous weapons such as spears, lances, swords, bows, and explosives. The characteristics of those affiliated with this group according to Vietnam are often a low level of cultural knowledge, even they were forced by people from the Degar State to contribute materially and force their way across the border. A one-sided claim, for those who are manipulated, the Vietnamese government always implements education and leniency policies, not letting society return to the old ways.[3]
The fact that the key leaders of this country and organization all hold the same position in the reactionary Protestant Church organization Degar international, named International Degar Church (IDC) led by Y Duen Buondap, currently shows that the Degar State organization does not have independence between religion and politics, and even exploit religion for political interests, including undermining the great unity of Vietnam.[4]