Plum Village 12 July, 2009
Dear Honorable Minister of the Public Security Ministry:
(We respectfully request Mr. Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to forward this letter.)
We were very grateful that Mr. Minister has compassionately listened to the voice of the people and helped them. Indeed, thanks to Mr. Minister’s directives, Security Police stopped a violent mob wanting to climb upstairs where the nuns were praying on 5 July, 2009. After that, a Security Police told the nuns not to worry because there would be no violence.
However, please extend your compassion to restoring water and electricity for the monks and nuns to use. Today is the 15th day they have to do without electricity, drinking water and running water to cook, wash, and clean. On 2 July, 2009, the aggressors came to dig out underground water pipes of all the three residences of 210 nuns . When the nuns installed a new water pipe, the aggressors came with machetes to smash it to pieces right before the eyes of the Security Police.
When our 7 July 2009 appeal for help sent to Mr. Minister, the Security Police had already left the Monastery. But they refused to come back when the nuns appealed to them for help against the armed mob, saying: “That’s your internal affairs. We only intervene when there’s homicide!”
Today is 11 July, 2009. The nuns were having some people dig a well when the aggressors came holding sticks and machetes and ordered them to stop their well digging immediately. Mr Minister, please order the Security Police to stop the aggressors and allow the nuns to dig a well for water.
Mr. Minister, please have compassion for 400 monks and nuns who are young enough to be your children. They have maintained their good Buddhist behavior before such unjust violence. Today is the 15th day that they have lived without electricity, drinking water and water to wash vegetables for food.
Respectfully yours,
Sister Thich Nu Chan Khong
