ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report is based on research conducted by Human Rights Watch from February 2001 through February 2002. The report was edited by Sidney Jones, director of the Asia Division, Joe Saunders, deputy director of the Asia division, and Malcolm Smart, program director. Additional comments were provided by Jim Ross, senior legal advisor, and Rachael Reilly, refugee policy advisor.

More than one hundred highlanders who were witnesses to the turmoil in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in 2001 were interviewed for this report. Human Rights Watch would like to express its gratitude to all those individuals who spoke with us-sometimes under conditions of great duress or personal risk. For their own protection, they cannot be named here. In addition we thank numerous others who prefer to remain anonymous who contributed to this report in many ways, assisting with translation, information on the history of the Central Highlands, documentation, and logistical arrangements in the field.