The Office of the People’s Committee UBND The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Bao Loc Province Independence-Freedom-Happiness
No 789 UBND Bao Loc 17.09.2009
Regarding the resolution of the situation
in Bat Nha temple, Dambri village
Attention: The heads of all departments
Chairmen of UBND of towns and villages
The committee of national frontier of towns
The legal status of the organization of Plum Village at Bat Nha has not been approved by the Buddhist Church of Viet Nam. Since July 2008 the abbot of Bat Nha monastery has declined the sponsorship of temporary residency, until now the organization of Plum Village has intentionally refused to leave Bat Nha. On a different matter, while they were present at Bat Nha there were a number of illegal activities (government residency decree 22/CI), violation of the charter of the Buddhist Church of Viet Nam… causing unrest among the majority of monastics and lay practitioners living in the local area.
According to the guidance of the provincial committee, the people’s committee of Lam Dong province has the aim to disband the Plum Village organization [at Bat Nha Monastery] after the three months retreat (15 July, lunar year) the UBND has further recommendations as follows:
1. We request the head of departments, chairmen of UBND of the towns, to directly organize propaganda and explain to government bodies, employees and citizens all the illegal activities committed by Plum Village and their abuse of the religious regulations of the communist party and government, in order to sabotage the government, and oppose the Buddhist Church of Viet Nam. This issue of Bat Nha should be resolved according to article 1329 of the Committee on Religions. The notification 037 of central management board of the Buddhist Church of Viet Nam should be made known to government bodies, employees and citizens (attached two copies).
2. We request the national committee of National Frontier, women’s association in conjunction with cooperatives of Dambri village continue to meet, impel the monks and nuns of Plum Village to voluntarily return to their homes or register to practice at other organizations (aside from Bat Nha temple) under the management of the Buddhist Church of Viet Nam.
3. We assign the chairmen of UBND of the suburbs of Blao, Loc Son, the Second suburb and the village of Dambri to give directions to other organizations and directly campaign, by all means, for the monks and nuns practicing Plum Village teachings and who are registered in the suburbs mentioned above, to go to their local temple under the management of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, or return to their family (the list is attached) and report all results to the town’s UBND .
4. The police of Bao Loc town needs to have plans to monitor, control all occurrences of the situation regarding Bat Nha, and direct the police of Dambri town to continue to inspect and deal with every violation of residency law, we have plans to readily resolve any bad or complicated situations that might occur.
Chairman
Pham Quang Tuong
CC:
- As above
- UBND of province
- Bao Loc Party Committee
- Office of Internal Affairs
- Any associations related
Archive
This letter from Mr Pham Quang Tuong clearly shows that the government of Bao Loc Province uses its power to coerce the towns to wage propaganda against the helpless monks and nuns of Bat Nha Monastery.
It is such a blatantly wrongful accusal of Mr Tuong that these monks and nuns are doing anything harmful to the government. Such behaviour of Bao Loc Province government must be stopped to protect the human rights of the people of VietNam.
Could you provide the link to the Vietnamese original? That would help very much.
Brothers & sisters,
It is with the painful heart to learn about this violence. Don’t we have enough crises in today’s living. Our heart be with you to both Sangkha and those who are suffering from natural disasters.