Đắk Lắk Commune People's Committee headquarters attack
Part of Montagnard and Terrorism in Vietnam
The photo shows rubble under a door at the site of the attack
Scene of the shooting at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Ea Tiêu commune, Đắk Lắk
Location of the incident.
Native nameVụ tấn công hai trụ sở Ủy ban nhân dân xã tại Đắk Lắk 2023
LocationEa Tiêu and Ea Ktur police station, Cư Kuin district, Đắk Lắk province, Vietnam.
Coordinates12°36′46″N 108°06′52″E / 12.612838°N 108.114578°E / 12.612838; 108.114578
12°36′51″N 108°06′53″E / 12.614044°N 108.114688°E / 12.614044; 108.114688
DateJune 11, 2023
0:35 am[1] (ICT, UTC+07:00)
TargetEa Tiêu and Ea Ktur police stations
Attack type
Mass murder, mass shootings, terrorism
WeaponsKnife, sword, air rifle and guns (including SKS), grenades, petrol bombs.[2]
Deaths9 (4 police officers, 2 officials, and 3 civilians)[3]
Injured2
PerpetratorsĐêga state
No. of participants
84 individuals, with 75 arrests.[4][5]
AccusedThe attack on the commune's police headquarters was carried out to rob weapons, creating a sensation and hoping to be able to leave Vietnam.[1]

On June 11, 2023, an unidentified group of dozens of individuals attacked the People's Committee headquarters of the Ea Tiêu and Ea Ktur communes in Cư Kuin district, Đắk Lắk province, Vietnam resulting in 9 fatalities and 2 seriously injured individuals. Simultaneously, numerous papers and documents were set on fire and destroyed. As of June 23, 2023, a total of 75 individuals have been arrested in connection with the shooting incident out of a total of 84 individuals involved. The Vietnamese government has referred to this as "an act of terrorism aimed at overthrowing the people's government."

Background

The Central Highlands region occupies a significant portion of Vietnam's coffee-growing area. It is also home to several ethnic minority groups. This region has long been considered a hotspot for land disputes and racial persecution perpetuated by the Vietnamese. During the Vietnam War, the Montagnard people reluctantly collaborated with the South Vietnam government due to American pressure, but that alliance was fractious and hostile due to South Vietnamese government's state-sponsored migration and cultural discrimination that displaced Montagnards.[6] In 1974, Montagnards rebelled against South Vietnamese government, which was brutally crushed by the ARVN.[7] The newly-established communist government in 1975 also did nothing to improve the rights of Montagnards, and even escalated the persecution of the Highlands tribes that began under Ngô Đình Diệm.[6]

Some demand greater autonomy rights, while others who are in exile abroad support separatism.[8] On September 20, 2000, Bdasu K'Bông, with the support of United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races, established the organization "Tin lành Đê Ga" (Evangelical Church of De Ga) in Vietnam, with the aim of advocating for the establishment of an independent Đêga state.[9] There have been frequent separatist movements operating in these areas, with notable examples being two major protests in 2001 and 2004.[10]

At the end of May 2022 the People's Committee of Cu Kuin district carried out forced demolition of 64 structures believed to have been illegally constructed on coffee land managed by Việt Thắng Coffee Limited Liability Company in Ea Tiêu commune, as well as 500 other structures.[11] On February 28, 2023, the People's Committee of this district carried out forced land reclamation and clearance to implement the project of the Hồ Chí Minh road bypass in the eastern part of Buôn Ma Thuột.[12] However, the forced eviction was halted on March 4.[13] In May 2023, a reporter from the Tiền Phong newspaper was threatened with death after publishing an exposé on illegal land exploitation and subsequently bringing attention to the construction site within this area.[14]

Shooting

At around 12:35 am (UTC+7:00) on June 11, 2023,[1] a group of approximately 50 unidentified individuals split into two groups and armed themselves with guns, knives, molotov cocktails, and grenades to attack the People's Committee headquarters in Ea Tiêu and Ea Ktur communes, Cư Kuin district, Đắk Lắk province. At the location, the group shot and stabbed four police officers to death and severely injured several others.[15] Many documents and papers were destroyed by fire, and the windows and main entrance were smashed.[16] Upon receiving the report, Nguyễn Văn Dũng, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ea Tieu commune, and Nguyễn Văn Kiên, the Party Secretary of Ea Ktur commune, arrived at the scene but were immediately intercepted and fatally shot by the group. While fleeing, the perpetrators stopped civilian vehicles and killed the occupants.[17][18] As a result, a total of nine people died, and two others were injured. The group also captured three hostages. Two of the hostages were later rescued, while one managed to escape on their own.[19]

Victims

The gunfire incident resulted in the death of 4 commune police officers, 2 commune officials, and 3 civilians. The four deceased commune police officers were Hoàng Trung (Major, People's Public Security), Trần Quốc Thắng (Major, People's Public Security), Hà Tuấn Anh (Captain, People's Public Security), Nguyễn Đăng Nhân (Captain, People's Public Security). The two deceased commune officials were Nguyễn Văn Kiên (Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Council of Ea Ktur commune) and Nguyễn Văn Dũng (Deputy Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ea Tiêu commune).[20] Two other individuals injured in the attack are Đàm Đình Bốp (Senior lieutenant, People's Public Security) and Lê Kiên Cường (Captain, People's Public Security).[21]

Arrest and investigations

Arrest

On the afternoon of June 11, following the attack and shooting incident, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam issued a statement and directed the units to surround and apprehend the individuals responsible for the incident. On the first day, local law enforcement forces arrested 16 suspects and successfully rescued two hostages. Additionally, another civilian was initially held as a hostage but managed to free themselves.[22] By the second day after the incident, the total number of individuals arrested had reached 26.[23] By the end of June 13 the number of individuals arrested had reached 46 suspects, with 3 of them being the main culprits who surrendered themselves.[24][20] As of June 17th, a total of 62 individuals have been arrested or surrendered in connection with the shooting incident.[1] According to the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, local authorities have invited 109 individuals for questioning and temporarily detained 74 suspects. In addition, 15 firearms and 1,199 rounds of ammunition have been seized.[25] Until the case was officially prosecuted on June 23, the number of individuals arrested was 75 out of a total of 84 individuals involved.[5][4]

Investigations

According to Vietnam Television, most of the individuals involved in the attack are residing in the Dak Lak province. Some of the participants have stated that they were "enticed and lured" by certain individuals to carry out the assault on the People's Committee headquarters of Ea Tiêu and Ea Ktur communes in Cư Kuin district, Đắk Lắk province. According to their testimonies, they were promised money and assets after executing the attack. Prior to the assault, these individuals also thoroughly discussed and assigned weapon responsibilities to each participating member.[26]

From June 3 to 6, Y Som (residing in Đắk Lắk province) is believed to be the leader who made phone calls urging people to cross the border and leave Vietnam. Y Som promised to provide each person with 100 million Vietnamese đồng upon leaving Vietnam. After those days, more than 50 individuals from different localities in Đắk Lắk and Gia Lai provinces gathered at a makeshift camp in Cư Kuin district, Đắk Lắk province, to execute the plan. Around 1 a.m. on June 11, the group split into two and carried out attacks on the People's Committee headquarters of Ea Tiêu and Ea Ktur communes.[15] According to Tô Ân Xô, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, this group of individuals was instructed to "kill, rob properties, and seize firearms and ammunition" if they encounter local officials and police officers at the commune level.[27] The purpose of the attack is said to be "weapon theft, creating a sensation, and having the illusion of going abroad".[1][28] Y Thô Ayun, one of the individuals accused of leading the shooting incident, has admitted to "propagating and inciting" many residents in Đắk Lắk province. He stated that he only spread his message to those who believed in his actions.[29]

On June 23 the Vietnamese media reported the criminal prosecution of a case involving 75 individuals who were arrested on charges of "Terrorism against the people's government"; 7 individuals on charges of "Failure to report criminal activities"; 1 individual on charges of "Concealing criminals"; and 1 individual on charges of "Organizing, brokering illegal emigration, immigration, or residence in Vietnam."[5][4]

Reactions

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang visits victims in Đắk Lắk

According to Radio Free Asia, shortly after the incident, VnExpress published an article citing information from the Ministry of Public Security, stating that at least 7 people were killed in the gunfire, but this information was later removed.[30] On the same day, the Ministry of Public Security issued an order to hunt down the perpetrators, reminding the public to remain calm, and requesting the media to verify accurate information.[31] In the afternoon, Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm decided to promote the ranks of the 4 police officers who died in the incident.[32] On the morning of June 12, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang visited and inquired about the injured individuals and the families of those who died.[33] He also instructed the recognition of martyr status for the 4 deceased police officers.[34] Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Huỳnh Chiến Thắng, led a delegation from the Ministry of Defense to inspect the scene of the incident.[35]

According to BBC Vietnamese, within just half a day on June 11, there were 2,258 articles, forum posts, and social media discussions about the attack. Among them, there were 386 news articles and 1,707 posts originating from social media platforms, predominantly from Facebook.[36] Local authorities have also imposed administrative fines on several individuals for spreading fake news about the shooting incident.[37][38] In Đắk Lắk alone, more than 100 cases have been fined.[39] On June 12th, Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of the Asia Division at Human Rights Watch, stated: "Behind the veil of secrecy that Vietnam has cast over the highlands, the government has seriously violated rights, suppressed religious and belief freedoms, confiscated lands from indigenous peoples, and attempted to assimilate the cultural, linguistic, and social diversity of ethnic groups, particularly those dominated by the ethnic majority, the Kinh".[40]

On June 20, 2023, at Third United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States organized by the United Nations, Vietnam's representative requested the intervention and support of other countries in investigating the attack, as there were members involved in the shooting incident belonging to an organization based in the United States.[41] United States ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper - representing the US Government - condemned the attack and proposed to cooperate with the Vietnamese side to find the perpetrators.[42]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nguyễn, Quỳnh. "Tạm giữ hình sự 62 đối tượng trong vụ tấn công bằng súng tại Đắk Lắk". Dân Việt (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Bắt 26 đối tượng, thu súng trường trong vụ tấn công trụ sở xã ở Đắk Lắk". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Vụ tấn công 2 trụ sở UBND xã: 4 cán bộ công an hi sinh, 2 cán bộ xã và 3 người dân thiệt mạng". Tuổi Trẻ. 2023-06-12. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  4. 1 2 3 "Khởi tố 84 người liên quan vụ khủng bố ở Đắk Lắk". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Vụ tấn công tại Đắk Lắk: Khởi tố vụ án khủng bố nhằm chống chính quyền nhân dân". Vietnam News Agency (in Vietnamese). 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2023-06-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "2 Vietnam police station shootings leave several killed, wounded, including civilians". South China Morning Post. 2023-11-06. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  9. ↑ "Bài 1: "Nhà nước" Đê Ga". Dân Trí. 2005-06-27. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  10. ↑ "Fulro – Hồ sơ đen về một tổ chức tội ác (Kỳ cuối)" [Fulro – The Dark Profile of a Criminal Organization (Final Part)]. Báo Lâm Đồng (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Cưỡng chế xong 64 công trình trái phép trên đất cà phê, hơn 500 điểm khác vào tầm ngắm". Tiền Phong. 2022-06-03.
  12. ↑ "Huyện Cư Kuin: Cưỡng chế thu hồi đất và giải phóng mặt bằng thực hiện Dự án đường Hồ Chí Minh đoạn tránh phía Đông TP. Buôn Ma Thuột". Báo Đắk Lắk. 2023-02-28. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  13. ↑ "Huyện Cư Kuin: Dừng cưỡng chế thu hồi đất thực hiện Dự án đường Hồ Chí Minh đoạn tránh phía Đông TP. Buôn Ma Thuột". Báo Đắk Lắk. 2023-03-04. Archived from the original on 2023-06-11. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  14. ↑ "Vụ mai phục 'đất tặc': Phóng viên Báo Tiền Phong bị đe dọa 'giết cả nhà'". Tiền Phong. 2023-05-06. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  15. 1 2 "Lời khai ban đầu của đối tượng tấn công trụ sở UBND tại Đắk Lắk" [The initial statements of the perpetrators involved in the attack on the commune's People's Committee headquarters in Dak Lak]. Báo Công Thương (in Vietnamese). 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Vụ nổ súng ở Đắk Lắk: Bắt 46 đối tượng; Công an kêu gọi người 'lầm đường, lạc lối' ra đầu thú" [Gunfire incident in Dak Lak: 46 suspects arrested; Police call on those who have gone astray to surrender]. Chính phủ (in Vietnamese). 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Lời khai ban đầu của các đối tượng tấn công trụ sở UBND xã tại Đắk Lắk". BaoHaiDuong. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "Đắk Lắk: Bắt giữ 6 người liên quan đến vụ xả súng vào hai trụ sở công an xã". Radio Free Asia (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Vietnam Says Central Highlands Shootings Death Toll at Nine". Bloomberg News. 2023-06-11. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  20. 1 2 "Vụ nổ súng ở Đắk Lắk: Bắt 39 đối tượng; người phạm tội sớm ra đầu thú để được hưởng khoan hồng" [Shooting incident in Đắk Lắk: 39 suspects arrested; some perpetrators surrendered early to receive leniency]. Chính phủ (in Vietnamese). 13 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Tặng Huy hiệu Tuổi trẻ dũng cảm cho các chiến sĩ công an vụ 2 trụ sở UBND xã ở Đắk Lắk bị tấn công" [Awarding the "Brave Youth Medal" to the police officers involved in the attack on two commune People's Committee headquarters in Đắk Lắk province]. Tiền Phong (in Vietnamese). 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  22. ↑ "Đã bắt 16 nghi phạm, giải cứu 2 con tin trong vụ nổ súng ở Đắk Lắk". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  23. ↑ "Bắt 26 đối tượng, thu súng trường trong vụ tấn công trụ sở xã ở Đắk Lắk" [Arrested 26 subjects, confiscated rifles in the attack on commune headquarters in Dak Lak]. Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Đắk Lắk: Thêm một đối tượng ra tự thú, an ninh trật tự toàn tỉnh trở lại bình thường" [Dak Lak: Another suspect comes forward to confess, restoring normalcy to the province's security and order.]. Tin tức. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  25. ↑ "Vụ tấn công 2 trụ sở xã ở Đắk Lắk: Tạm giữ 74 nghi phạm, thu giữ 15 khẩu súng". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  26. ↑ Liên Liên; Minh Đức; Việt Thanh (13 June 2023). "Nhóm đối tượng nổ súng ở Đắk Lắk có tính chất liều lĩnh". VTV (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  27. ↑ "Người phát ngôn Bộ Công an thông tin vụ tấn công trụ sở xã ở Đắk Lắk". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "Nhóm tấn công ở Đắk Lắk: Muốn gây tiếng vang, ảo tưởng ra nước ngoài". Dân Trí (in Vietnamese). 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  29. ↑ "Bắt được một trong những nghi phạm cầm đầu vụ tấn công 2 trụ sở xã ở Đắk Lắk". Tuổi Trẻ (in Vietnamese). 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  30. ↑ "Đắk Lắk: Báo nhà nước xóa bài "xả súng ở hai trụ sở công an xã khiến 6 cán bộ tử vong"". Radio Free Asia. 2023-06-10. Archived from the original on 2023-06-11. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  31. ↑ "Bộ Công an đang truy quét nhóm người dùng súng tấn công trụ sở công an xã tại Đắk Lắk". Tiền Phong. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  32. ↑ "Truy thăng cấp bậc hàm đối với 4 cán bộ, chiến sĩ Công an xã hy sinh tại Đắk Lắk". Báo Tiền Phong (in Vietnamese). 11 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  33. ↑ Trí, Dân (12 June 2023). "Phó Thủ tướng thăm các nạn nhân vụ tấn công bằng súng ở Đắk Lắk". Dân Trí (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  34. ↑ "4 công an hy sinh trong vụ tấn công ở Đắk Lắk được công nhận liệt sĩ". Dân Trí (in Vietnamese). 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  35. ↑ "Đoàn công tác BQP kiểm tra hiện trường vụ tấn công tại Đắk Lắk". VietnamPlus (in Vietnamese). 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  36. ↑ "Vì sao xảy ra vụ tấn công hai trụ sở công an ở Đắk Lắk bị tấn công?". BBC News (in Vietnamese). 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  37. ↑ "Xử phạt người đưa tin xuyên tạc về vụ tấn công trụ sở công an ở Đắk Lắk". Tiền Phong (in Vietnamese). 13 June 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  38. ↑ "Xử phạt một loạt đối tượng xuyên tạc vụ việc tại Đắk Lắk". Chính phủ (in Vietnamese). 16 June 2023. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  39. ↑ Tâm, An (17 June 2023). "Vụ tấn công 2 trụ sở UBND xã ở Đắk Lắk: Xử lý hơn 100 Facebooker đăng sai sự thật". Tuổi Trẻ (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  40. ↑ "Vì sao xảy ra vụ tấn công hai trụ sở công an ở Đắk Lắk bị tấn công?". BBC News (in Vietnamese). 12 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  41. ↑ "Việt Nam kêu gọi quốc tế hợp tác điều tra vụ khủng bố tại Đắk Lắk". Chính phủ (in Vietnamese). 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  42. ↑ Vu Anh. "US condemns Dak Lak attacks, vows cooperation - VnExpress International". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
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