Vietnam Government reveals it hand – and turns from eviction to outright persecution
It is now clear that the police and government are not satisfied with the forced closure and violent eviction of monks and nuns from Bat Nha monastery itself, but are intent on continued, aggressive persecution of this one group of people.
Blockade, threatened violence, intimidation and forced surrender of young monks and nuns
Uniformed police have blockaded the Chùa Phước Huệ temple in Bảo Lộc where the 376 monastics have taken sanctuary. Police officers, numbering 200 at their peak, yesterday viciously threatened the abbot, Venerable Thai Thuan.
Last night, their campaign of intimidation – which has included attacking his reputation in thousands of flyers distributed throughout the town – culminated in a demand that the abbot surrender 15 monks and nuns. Officers even threatened to repeat at Chùa Phước Huệ temple the violence and destruction they inflicted at Bat Nha if they did not comply. Under this extreme pressure, the abbot surrendered the 15 youngest monks and nuns. They were given into police custody at midnight, and it is understood they have been taken to Saigon.
These refugee monks and nuns are very young – almost all under 25 and many under 18 years old. They are vulnerable and helpless, almost 400 in total now crowded into this small town-centre temple for refuge. Their elder monastic brothers have been separated from them, held without charge, and are under house arrest in Ha Noi and Nha Trang, their papers confiscated.
For the first time, High Buddhist Monks speak out
The head of the Buddhist Church Association of Lam Dong Province, High Venerable Hoa Thuong Phap Chieu, resigned his post yesterday. A further group of key high-profile venerables in the region have, extraordinarily, put their names to a letter condemning the violence [original document in Vietnamese; English trans.] They demand the peaceful resolution of the situation and testify to the violence they were subjected to in June when they attempted to travel to Bat Nha monastery in support.
Catholic support
Remarkably, the congregation of the neighboring Catholic Church has offered sanctuary to the refugee monks and nuns in the event that the Abbot of Chùa Phước Huệ is unable to resist government pressure.
Friends,
I think you should add the contact details like in the first press release so it makes easier to the media to contact someone.
Metta
Good idea Elina. Thank you for the suggestion. We are not so professional with this process but I will pass the suggestion forward and see if a consistent contact method can be created.
In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. (Protestant minister Martin Neimoller, who reflected upon Germany’s fall to the Nazis)…
Please speak up for Bat Nha …
We need a very specific action- write to the Vietnamese consulate in the US at such-and-such address, write your senators and say XYZ- that kind of thing.
myself and my friends are meditating for a peaceful resolution to the imhumane actions of the vietnamese officials against the peaceful monks and nuns. our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Press and media may send an email to helpbatnha.media[at]gmail.com
New links in the upper right side include
* Contact us
* How Can I Help?
* Photos + Video
* PRESS releases
Authentic Spirituality in whatever form and from whatever tradition it comes from is an indispensable factor in the growth of a person and of a community/nation. And the the reverse is just as true. An individual or a community/nation that is not rooted in an authentic spirituality will not be strong enough to face the challenges of the times.
The Vietnamese government must feel grateful and not be threatened by the strong spirituality from many traditions that the Vietnamese people practice. Authentic spirituality is not an enemy of real progress. The authorities must encourage not persecute these people.
The Vietnamese government must not be threatened by the growing demand of its people to practice their religion and spirituality. Authentic spirituality is an indispensable element in a nation that seeks for true and lasting progress. Without this, a nation and its people cannot really sustain the increasing demands of the times.
I join the Vietnamese people in their demand for religious freedom!
The international community must condemn any attempt to crack down on people’s religious freedom!
[...] a gesture of religious solidarity, the local Catholic Church has offered to provide refuge to the monastics if they are evicted from Phuoc Hue temple [...]
I wonder whether the Vietnamese Government isn’t aware, that all the world is reading about the happenings in Vietnam. Aren’t they aware of the bad reputation this brings to them? Aren’t they ashamed for their actions?
With metta from Switzerland
I send Metta to all involved in this conflict, the local government, the police and the citizens mislead and uniformed..
May all find PEACE and Freedom and wake-up and see a new vision,a world at peace with our differences and similarities…..
A deep bow to all,
May we wake-up…
David
True Sound of Virtue
Yitzik Dov Ben Hiyim Fischal