10 get life imprisonment for terrorism in Vietnam Central Highlands

Ten defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment Saturday for terrorist attacks that killed nine people in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak last year.

They were among 53 defendants convicted of “terrorism against the people's government,” while the remaining 43 received sentences of between six and 20 years in prison, according to a court verdict for 100 defendants in the trial.

Among them, H Wuen Eban and Y Sol Nie were found to be the masterminds who coaxed others into attacking the government offices in Ea Ktur and Ea Tieu communes in the province’s Cu Kuin district.

Prosecutors had recommended them death sentences, but the court determined that they had low educational background and limited knowledge of the law, and were enticed and provoked by overseas groups into committing crimes.

In addition, 45 other defendants, including six still at large, were sentenced to between 3.5 years and 11 years in jail for “terrorism.”

Le Van Nghia was handed down a sentence of two years in prison for organizing illegal entry into Vietnam, and Y Cing Bya nine months in jail for concealing crimes.

According to the indictment, H Wuen Eban joined the U.S.-based MSGI group (Support Group for Montagnards), and then recruited people of ethnic minorities in Dak Lak to form armed groups named “Khan Dega” (Dega troops). Eban and her accomplices also threatened many to force them to join the armed groups.

MSGI often sent money to Eban to pay for living expenses and other costs of the armed groups.

In early 2023, Eban asked for permission from MSGI to allow armed groups to perform terrorist acts in Vietnam, including the murdering of innocent people and the destruction of property, to cause fear in the community. Y Sol Nie returned to Vietnam to coordinate the attacks with Eban.

On June 10, 2023 evening, they split into two groups to attack two local government offices and police stations. The attacks resulting in the deaths of two commune officials, three police officers, and four civilians, and several injuries.