History
Updated: 10/13/17.
If you see incorrect or missing information please report it with the correction in the comment section below. We also welcome photo and video submissions related to the information on this page. Please email them to msg.dega@gmail.com
875 A.D.-1697 — Forced Dega migration to the west and south from Cham and Vietnamese coastal invasions. Dega resettlement in the central plateau (highland) region of Southeast Asia.
1698-1800 — Era of Dega peace / Before French colonization
1848-1955 — French colonization
1940s-1945 — Japanese occupation during World War II
1945-1954 — French-Indochina War
1950-1954 — Vietnamese colonization under Emperor Bao Dai of South Vietnam
1956-1975 — Vietnamese Civil War / Second Indochina War / Vietnam War
1964-1975 — Vietnamese colonization / genocide under General Nguyen Van Thieu’s regime of South Vietnam
1975-1992 — Vietnamese colonization / genocide under the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
In the mid-1800s France colonized Dega nations. During French colonization our population was estimated to be over 3,000,000 (three million) people. This number is under-reported. In 1946 France restored autonomy to Dega nations under a single, unified country called Pays Montagnard Du Sud Indochine (Montagnard Country of South Indochina). In 1954 France classified Dega (Montagnard) Country as a Crown Domain under Emperor Bao Dai of South Vietnam without consent from Dega leaders or the Dega people. In 1950 Vietnam illegally annexed Dega Country, violating our territorial integrity and rights to sovereignty.
Beginning in the 1950s Dega leaders launched the Dega Liberation Movement to advocate for Dega independence. This was in response to South Vietnam's dictatorial regime and genocidal programs. The movement turned militant after violent repression by the South Vietnam. The movement was known under different names as it evolved along with changing political conditions. In chronological order they were: BAJARAKA (1950s), FLHPM-FULRO (1960s), FLHPM (1970s). Other Dega organizations were formed to restore Dega independence that were not associated with the groups listed above including FLCH (1960s).
From 1945-1954 the French Indochina War took place. From 1956-1975 the Vietnamese Civil War (Vietnam War) took place. In 1961 the American CIA launched the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CDIG) Program to train the Dega people and other highland groups into an anti-Viet Cong paramilitary force. From 1975-1992 the FLHPM Uprising took place. After the FLHPM Uprising ended in 1992 Dega leaders were imprisoned, murdered, or forced to seek refuge in other countries.
During these wars Dega territory was completely occupied by war. The Dega people were recruited by both sides with the false agreement to restore Dega independence. Millions of Dega people died during these wars. During the Vietnamese Civil War of 1960-1975, over a million Dega people died and an estimated 85% of Dega villages were destroyed.
Since Vietnam's illegal occupation of Dega territory the Dega people have faced genocide, persecution, political imprisonment, forced displacement, forced sterilization, rape, and other vile human rights abuses. Outside of Southeast Asia the largest community of Dega people live in North Carolina, United States of America.
After the uprising ended in 1992 several organizations have formed under the Dega Independence Movement to promote Dega human rights, indigenous rights, and sovereignty both in and outside of Vietnam. The families living in Vietnam related to known members of these organizations are harassed, threatened, imprisoned, and/or tortured. Dega people living in Vietnam who advocate for Dega rights also face persecution and political imprisonment for their work.
If you see incorrect or missing information please report it with the correction in the comment section below. We also welcome photo and video submissions related to the information on this page. Please email them to msg.dega@gmail.com
History Timeline
1st century B.C. — Ancient migration from Indonesia/Polynesia region to coast of present day central and south Vietnam875 A.D.-1697 — Forced Dega migration to the west and south from Cham and Vietnamese coastal invasions. Dega resettlement in the central plateau (highland) region of Southeast Asia.
1698-1800 — Era of Dega peace / Before French colonization
1848-1955 — French colonization
1940s-1945 — Japanese occupation during World War II
1945-1954 — French-Indochina War
1950-1954 — Vietnamese colonization under Emperor Bao Dai of South Vietnam
1956-1975 — Vietnamese Civil War / Second Indochina War / Vietnam War
1955-1963 — Vietnamese colonization / genocide under President Ngo Dinh Diem’s regime of South Vietnam
1958-1964 — BAJARAKA Uprising (1st wave of Dega Independence Movement)
1961 — Launch of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CDIG) Program by the American CIA to train highland inhabitants into an anti-Viet Cong paramilitary force.
1961 — Launch of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CDIG) Program by the American CIA to train highland inhabitants into an anti-Viet Cong paramilitary force.
1964-1975 — Vietnamese colonization / genocide under General Nguyen Van Thieu’s regime of South Vietnam
1964-1968 — FLHPM-FULRO Uprising (2nd wave of Dega Independence Movement - Combined front)
1968-1975 — FLHPM Uprising (3rd wave of Dega Independence Movement)
1975-1992 — Vietnamese colonization / genocide under the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1975-1992 — FLHPM Uprising (3rd wave of Dega Independence Movement after the Vietnamese Civil War)
1992-Present — Vietnamese colonization / genocide under the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1992-Present — Post-war Dega independence and human rights movement (5th wave of Dega Independence Movement)
History (Short Version)
The short version of Dega history is organized by theme.
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| Dega Montagnard man plays an instrument in front of a farm house. Source: Pinterest. |
In the first century B.C. the Dega people migrated from the Indonesia-Malaysia-Polynesia region to the coast of present day Vietnam. For thousands of years the Dega people lived freely and independently as separate tribal nations across present day central and south Vietnam. After a series of invasions by the Champa and Vietnamese kingdoms between 850-1497 the Dega people were forced to flee west. Many Dega nations resettled in the uninhabited Central Highlands region. Other Dega nations resettled in the lowlands surrounded the Central Highlands region.
In the mid-1800s France colonized Dega nations. During French colonization our population was estimated to be over 3,000,000 (three million) people. This number is under-reported. In 1946 France restored autonomy to Dega nations under a single, unified country called Pays Montagnard Du Sud Indochine (Montagnard Country of South Indochina). In 1954 France classified Dega (Montagnard) Country as a Crown Domain under Emperor Bao Dai of South Vietnam without consent from Dega leaders or the Dega people. In 1950 Vietnam illegally annexed Dega Country, violating our territorial integrity and rights to sovereignty.
Beginning in the 1950s Dega leaders launched the Dega Liberation Movement to advocate for Dega independence. This was in response to South Vietnam's dictatorial regime and genocidal programs. The movement turned militant after violent repression by the South Vietnam. The movement was known under different names as it evolved along with changing political conditions. In chronological order they were: BAJARAKA (1950s), FLHPM-FULRO (1960s), FLHPM (1970s). Other Dega organizations were formed to restore Dega independence that were not associated with the groups listed above including FLCH (1960s).
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| An American officier trains Dega soldiers. Source: https://www.peteralanlloyd.com/ |
During these wars Dega territory was completely occupied by war. The Dega people were recruited by both sides with the false agreement to restore Dega independence. Millions of Dega people died during these wars. During the Vietnamese Civil War of 1960-1975, over a million Dega people died and an estimated 85% of Dega villages were destroyed.
Since Vietnam's illegal occupation of Dega territory the Dega people have faced genocide, persecution, political imprisonment, forced displacement, forced sterilization, rape, and other vile human rights abuses. Outside of Southeast Asia the largest community of Dega people live in North Carolina, United States of America.
After the uprising ended in 1992 several organizations have formed under the Dega Independence Movement to promote Dega human rights, indigenous rights, and sovereignty both in and outside of Vietnam. The families living in Vietnam related to known members of these organizations are harassed, threatened, imprisoned, and/or tortured. Dega people living in Vietnam who advocate for Dega rights also face persecution and political imprisonment for their work.
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