Our political influence

I am a Montagnard Dega man, of the Rhade tribe, now living in
 North Carolina since 1992.  We have been struggling to some-
how influence the government in Viet Nam to recognize the Dega
people's rights to live a peaceful life in our own homeland 
since 1958.  We have no autonomy or influence;  the answer to
your second question... most common Montagnard people do not
travel to different cities or regions within Viet Nam.  
Former FULRO soldiers are living in exile and our relatives
in the villages are unable to travel.  When I was a young boy I 
travelled only to my family's field, located some 5 km from my
house.  In 1969 I joined the US Special Forces, and with them
I travelled to Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Bay, Da Nang, Con Tho,and 
many other regions until I was forced to flee to the jungles
in 1974.  We have travelled quite some distance, but I don't 
think it is the sort of travelling you were referring to.  
     Thank you for your interest in our state of life and our      
political influence;  thanks to the photographer for sharing
the photographs...they remind me of the way it was when I was
young.  As we say in my language, Lac jak ko ih lu (Many thanks
to you)!!!-HM