Y Nuen Ayun
Ama Đawit
Detainment Type: At risk
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Other Names: Ama Đawit
Date of Birth: 1967
Gender: M
Religion: Christian (Protestant)
Ethnicity: Montagnard
Occupation: Religious leader
Activist Focus:
- Religious freedom
Details
Background
Y Nuen Ayun lives and works in Krông Pắc District.
History of ActivismY Nuen Ayun has worked as a pastor for CHPC (Hội Thánh Tin lành Đấng Christ Tây Nguyên/Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ of the Central Highlands) since 2013, and he has been vice president of the organization since September 2020. He and his family have been constantly harassed by the local authorities just for practicing their beliefs.
Pastor Y Nuen Ayun has also been involved in documenting human rights violations and repression by the local authorities.
He was publicly denounced by the commune and district police in Krong Pac District, Dak Lak Province in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he was accused in a tv program of being anti-government and of mobilizing people to secede from Vietnam to form an autonomous region in the Central Highlands. The program was broadcast on the Security Police Television under the Ministry of Public Security.
October 3, 2018: “struggle session” to denounce religious activities and participation
On October 3 and 4, 2018, public security officers of Krong Pac District, Dak Lak Province, convened a “struggle session” against Pastor Y Nuen Ayun and two others. They publicly accused the individuals of going against the government and the Communist Party of Vietnam. Police reportedly threatened these individuals that they can besentenced to up to 20 years in prison, and if they wanted to remain in the community, they must leave the Church.
January, 2021: interrogated for printing calendars with logo
During Lunar New Year 2021 (Januart-Feb 2021), Y Nuen Ayun and Y Krec ordered 100 copies of calendars with the CHPC logo to be given to its members. The printed calendars were confiscated and the men detained for questioning. Also, the local authorities accused them of corruption, stealing money/funds from overseas for their own personal expenses.
July 16, 2021: detained and forced to promise not to practice his religion
In the early hours of July 16, the Public Security of Dak Lak Province raided several villages across Dak Lak and forcefully took away several members of CHPC. In Puan B Village, Pastor Y Nuen Ayun was arrested. According to the official statement from the Public Security of Dak Lak, this was just a police invitation.
Other state media outlets accused the CHPC religious group of violating the law just because it preached to and encouraged other members of their communities to participate in their religious organization.
Pastor Y Nuen Ayun and others were reportedly released after the detention. However, the local authorities still warned of a possible indictment of anyone involved in CHPC religious activities.
Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:07