Campaigner warns on Vietnam religious freedom

Published Date: January 22, 2010

Tags: Dong Chiem, Hanoi, Lord David Alton

Campaigner warns on Vietnam religious freedom thumbnail

Prominent British Catholic Lord Alton has called on Vietnam’s government to get to grips with hardline local officials to stop a “definite deterioration” in religious freedom as news emerged of more protesters beaten by police and democratic campaigners jailed.

Despite a recent improvement in relations between the Vatican and the Vietnamese government, Lord Alton said, recent events such as the forcible removal of a hilltop cross in Dong Chiem parish and the seizure of church properties could endanger the country’s standing in the eyes of the world, UCA News reports.

“There has been a definite deterioration recently,” he told UCA News on Jan 20.

“The problem may be - as it is in China - that a powerful local politician can set the agenda, ignoring the official government line,” Alton told UCA News.

“We shouldn’t assume that what happens is government policy. But if the government wants to be well regarded around the world, it has to take action.”

Sources in Rome, who requested anonymity, suggested that the latest increase in tension had come as a surprise to both the Vatican and to the upper echelons of the government.

Meanwhile, in a strong-worded statement dated Jan. 20, Hanoi Archdiocese condemned the escalating violence and reported that a group of priests and religious, on their way to visit Dong Chiem parish, had been attacked

“The most severe cases involved Mr. J.B. Nguyen Huu Vinh who was knocked out of conciousness at a police check point in Dong Chiem on Jan 11, and most rescently Bro. Nguyen Van Tang, a monk from the Redemptorist monastery was also beaten until losing conciousness on Jan 20 when on his way to visit Dong Chiem”.

“The lay man was slightly injured, but Br Anthony Nguyen suffered serious blow to the head, lips and eyes,” added Fr Peter Nguyen.

Fr Nguyen noted that locals recognized attackers as “policemen from inner city of Hanoi”.

In another story, UCA News reported that Catholic lawyer, Paul Le Cong Dinh, who was accused of trying to overthrow the government, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Three other dissidents charged with similar offences were also sentenced to jail terms and house arrest on Jan. 20 by the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City.

SOURCE

Hanoi urged to rein in local officials (UCA News)

Catholic lawyer among jailed dissidents (UCA News)

Redemptorist brutally beaten by police, archdiocese of Hanoi condemns (VietCatholic News)

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petervich

I remember many North Vietnamese friends seeking for temporary asylam in the Northeastern Part of Thailand during the past four decades. As a catholic , I feel embarashed to learn about the brutant actions against VN catholics. May Almighty God and Our Beloved Mother assist you all !

Hai Tran

I don't know why the Communist leaders has been keeping quiet so long at this big problem, and only goverment run Catholic church's priests is doing their best to support the police to detroy the cross and beating the Dong Chiem Catholics. The answer is, they are not elected by the Vietnamese people, that why they don't care of the welfare of their subjects.

Francis Nguyen

Funny, there are someone being childish or actually presuming as if being childish! They keep speaking clab clab but never care about the facts. But the others, someone like Lord Alton, they are not mixed up. What were happening in USA or UK and what have been happening in VN (under communist regime), they are quite different. It is what communism usually states: 'the phenomenon and the essence of things'.
My dear friend, no one (who is fair understanding) can have a doubt about the natures of those have been taking place in USA, UK and VN during recent times.
Please, my friend, take a closer look and think twice before speak!

EdwinTran

Funny, A Vietnamese student at San Francisco State University was beaten by police like animal as the victim described it and captured by a mobile phone cam. Another mental Vietnamese man was shot to kill in California without question. No one care. Someone described as they died like animals.
Lord Alton such a care person for the Vietnamese, per-half he should stop the court sending a 15 years old Vietnamese origin born in the UK to prison for 12 months caught with a gun. It is like sending child soldier to prison. Britain also blamed on the Vietnamese as a majority for the cannabis problem in the UK and caused by those illegal immigrants and turned these people into NASA-electrician and Bio-Sphere scientists and caught none of those masters behind the major problem.

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