Leadership
Y-Mut Mlo co-found and leads the Montagnard Support Group.
Since he can remember his village was plagued with poverty, ill health, governmental repression and war (which was the case for most Dega communities). This was the result of years of oppressive programs enacted by South Vietnam, made worse by deliberate genocidal warfare on Dega territory by North Vietnam, the Viet Cong, and South Vietnam.
After witnessing terrible war crimes against his people, Y-Mut Mlo left to join the Dega Liberation Movement (FLHPM; commonly known as FULRO) in the jungles of Southeast Asia in 1979. He was only 18 years old. That day he chose to fight for his people's God-given rights to survival, freedom, and independence.
In 1980 Y-Mut Mlo's group moved from the Central Highlands in Vietnam to Cambodia. In 1981 his group crossed Cambodia and Laos. They arrived in Thailand in 1982.
In 1985, after six years of war, Y-Mut Mlo, along with over a hundred comrades and their families, laid down their weapons in Thailand to United Nations peacekeeping forces. In 1986 they were resettled to North Carolina, United States of America where they became productive citizens.
Since his resettlement in 1986 Y-Mut Mlo has been active in the Dega independence and human rights movement. In 2011 Dega community members elected Y-Mut Mlo to lead the Independence Movement. They formed the Montagnard Support Group that same year to specifically restore Dega sovereignty. He remains committed to the Dega people.
Y-Mut Mlo's Story
Y-Mut Mlo was born in 1961 during the Vietnamese Civil War in the village of Buon Ktla in the province of Dak-Lak. His parents were farmers who relied on subsistence farming to survive.Since he can remember his village was plagued with poverty, ill health, governmental repression and war (which was the case for most Dega communities). This was the result of years of oppressive programs enacted by South Vietnam, made worse by deliberate genocidal warfare on Dega territory by North Vietnam, the Viet Cong, and South Vietnam.
After witnessing terrible war crimes against his people, Y-Mut Mlo left to join the Dega Liberation Movement (FLHPM; commonly known as FULRO) in the jungles of Southeast Asia in 1979. He was only 18 years old. That day he chose to fight for his people's God-given rights to survival, freedom, and independence.
In 1980 Y-Mut Mlo's group moved from the Central Highlands in Vietnam to Cambodia. In 1981 his group crossed Cambodia and Laos. They arrived in Thailand in 1982.
In 1985, after six years of war, Y-Mut Mlo, along with over a hundred comrades and their families, laid down their weapons in Thailand to United Nations peacekeeping forces. In 1986 they were resettled to North Carolina, United States of America where they became productive citizens.
Since his resettlement in 1986 Y-Mut Mlo has been active in the Dega independence and human rights movement. In 2011 Dega community members elected Y-Mut Mlo to lead the Independence Movement. They formed the Montagnard Support Group that same year to specifically restore Dega sovereignty. He remains committed to the Dega people.
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