I wish I could say something positive about this. I think ultimately there may also be land and coffee tied up in this business. The communists have long seen the tourism value of their ethnic "hill tribes". And I can't help but wonder why christianity should pose such a problem "westward" as these days the old "Redball" is dotted unabashedly with Christian churches at least from Quang Ngai well up into the north toward Vinh.
Fear of propoganda may be a factor too, where groups related to US Special Forces veterans have aimed powerful radio transmitters broadcasting Christian programming from the Philippenes specifically directed at Montangard groups. Though Nong Duc Manh came to the Party General Secretaryship as a "reformer", it really seems sad that he can't see that it would benefit Vietnam so much more to put that philosophy into practice.