Diem's Settlement Program in Montagnard Lands

Diem's Settlement Program was a controversial initiative aimed at relocating ethnic Vietnamese Kinh to the Central Highlands, traditionally inhabited by the Montagnard people. This program was part of a broader strategy by the South Vietnamese government to assert control over the region and integrate the Montagnards into the national framework. The influx of Kinh settlers led to significant land disputes and cultural tensions, as the Montagnards viewed this as an encroachment on their ancestral lands. The Montagnards, who had their own distinct cultural identity and historical grievances, reacted strongly against this program. Many were driven to join the Viet Cong in resistance to the government’s policies, which they perceived as oppressive and discriminatory. This shift in allegiance not only intensified the conflict in the region but also highlighted the complexities of ethnic relations in South Vietnam during the war.