Vietnam has barred non-nationals from travel to its Central Highlands after ethnic minorities clashed with police and military with stones and sticks yesterday in a repeat of protests three years ago.
Thousands of the hill tribespeople drove into Buon Ma Thuot city, the capital of Daklak province, yesterday and massed outside the provincial government office, local residents said.
"They marched as if in a military parade," said one resident.
The Montagnard Foundation Inc, which says it represents some of the hill tribespeople, says they are Protestants protesting against alleged repression by authorities.
Major unrest in the highlands in February 2001 over religious and property rights was crushed by Hanoi and the region has since been under a blanket of security. Diplomats and foreign journalists must get clearance to travel to the area.
An estimated 200 to 300 of the minorities, loosely called Montagnards, were detained after Saturday's melee during which tear gas was used, a local resident said. A number of people with minor injuries were treated on Saturday at the General Hospital in Daklak, an official at the facility said on Sunday.