Vietnamese
Catholics attacked while carrying Christmas gifts to orphans
Joseph Dang - AsiaNews
12/30/2013
Attack took place in Kontum, where a group of volunteers were blocked by
police and forced to turn back. One of the assaulted, tortured by the head of
the local Communist Party, ended up in hospital with multiple internal injuries.
Kontum
( AsiaNews) - The Dr. Seuss story of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" in which
a creature that hates Christmas robs children's gifts has become a reality in
Kontum, Vietnam.
An unwarranted attack on a group of church volunteers as they tried to bring
Christmas gifts to orphans and the poor in remote areas of the province has left
many children sad this festive season.
Father Tran Si Tin, C.Ss.R, pastor of the Catholic congregation of Gia Lai, in
the diocese and province of Kontum in the Central Highlands, presented a report
in which he denounces the serious violation of human and religious rights
carried out by the very head of the Ayun municipality against a group of
volunteers from the Church who on December 17 were delivering blankets donated
by people to the orphans of the town .
They were carrying out a mission on behalf of Father Tin, too old and not
physically able to carry out a work in mountainous areas. But halfway to their
destination the group was stopped by local police who ordered to turn back. The
group's leader, Kpuih Bop Plei Chep was then singled out for punishment and was
beaten and tortured by Ayun village Communist Party chief Dat Nguyen Van. Bop
has had multiple internal injuries and had to be hospitalized.
"There is no freedom in the town of Ayun ," commented the disappointed Father
Tin. "Since this is an isolated area, Catholic activities are often forbidden
and therefore anything to do with religion meets this immoral reaction immoral
from officials . One cannot talk about religion in this municipality".
Vietnam November 12, 2013, joined the Human Rights Commission of the United
Nations . But will it respect and protect human rights or simply play a dirty
game with the Human Rights Commission ?