Spiritual leaders and human rights groups in and outside of Vietnam protest against religious persecution

 

 

 

Vietnam Human Rights Network

August 13, 2005

 

According to reliable sources, the communist government of Vietnam has recently increased the persecution against Hoa Hao Buddhists and Christians.

The Vietnam Human Rights Network, together with leaders of various religions and representatives of other human rights and faith-based organizations in and outside of Vietnam expressed concerns about the increasing religious persecution, and appealed the international community to assist in protecting religious freedom in Vietnam.

Following is the English translation of the joint statement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT ON THE RISE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN VIETNAM

 

 

 

According to sources in Vietnam and Radio Free Asia in recent months, incidents of religious persecution in Vietnam have markedly increased.

 

·         Over the last month, several members of the Protestant Church in Long An province were coerced into signing statement to renounce their Church.

 

·         On July 19, 2005, security forces demolished Reverend Nguyen Hong Quang’s Mennonite Church office and worship place in Saigon.

 

·         On August 5, 2005, scores of security agents were reported to have harassed and arrested groups of Hoa Hao Buddhist clergymen and their followers in An Giang and Dong Thap provinces.  Several people resorted to self-immolation in protest over the attack, including clergyman Tran Van Ut, pronounced dead at hospital, and Mr Vo Van Buu critically wounded.

 

·         On August 8, 2005, police surrounded and harassed 3 pastors and 60 youths at a church sponsored summer camp in Binh Phuoc province.

 

These actions by Vietnamese authorities represent gross violations of freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution of Vietnam and the United Nations’ covenants on human rights ratified by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1982.

 

We, the undersigned, spiritual leaders and representatives of human rights and religious organizations in Vietnam and abroad:

 

1.      Protest the religious persecution by Vietnamese authorities and demand Hanoi (1) immediately and unconditionally free all religious leaders and their followers under arrest for their religious activities; and (2) fairly compensate all victims and/or their families for the death, injury or material damage caused by Vietnamese authorities.

2.      Appeal to the United Nations, international organizations and the governments of all free countries of the world to pressure Hanoi into respecting its citizens’ religious faith.

3.      Call on Vietnamese individuals and organizations at home and overseas to continue to advocate for human rights, freedom and democracy for all their countrymen in Vietnam.

 

 

Made on August 13, 2005.

 

 

 

A Group of Catholic Priests in Vietnam

Rev. Nguyen Van Ly

Rev. Chan Tin

Rev. Nguyen Huu Giai

Rev. Phan Van Loi

 

Most Rev. Thich Minh Tuyen, President

Council of Vietnamese Buddhist Congregations in North America

 

Rev. Dang Ngoc Bau

United Methodist Church, USA

 

Rev. Nguyen Huu Le

Vietnamese Catholic Community, New Zealand

 

Le Thi Phu Dung, President

Menonite Church of Vietnam

 

Le Quang Liem, President

Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregation of Vietnam

 

Tran Khue, Spokesman

Movement of Democracy in Vietnam

 

Nguyen Thanh Trang, President

Vietnam Human Rights Network

 

Cao Chanh Huu, President

Overseas Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Congregation

 

Nguyen Van Coi, Spokesman

The Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist Association

 

Do Nhu Dien, Coordinator

The Vietnamese Laity Movement in the Diaspora

 

Huynh Phuoc Long, Secretary General

Central Committee of Hoa Hao Buddhist Church

 

Rev. Pham van Kham, Acting President

Cao Dai Church in California

 

Nguyen Thanh Giau, Assistant President

Central Committee of Hoa Hao Buddhist Church

 

Doan The Cuong, President

Committee for Vietnam National Salvation

 

Nguyen Quoc Quan, President

International Committee for Freedom

To Support The Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam

 

Ngo Thi Hien, President

Committee for Religious Freedom in Vietnam

 

Nguyen Ngoc Bich, President

National Congress of Vietnamese Americans

 

Le Tu Ha, Secretary General

Movement for Religious Freedom and Human Rights in Vietnam

 

Nguyen Van Hoa, President

Vietnam Human Rights Committee, Germany

 

  

 

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