http://www.thepetitionsite.com/6/religious-freedom-in-viet-nam

Target: ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
Sponsored by: Mindfulness Practice Communities of Australia

Dear Friends,
Our brothers and sisters in Australia and New Zealand have formulated this new petition directed towards the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Please help them by signing this petition and getting the word out to your friends (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Blogs, etc.).

Text of petition:
Vietnam will assume the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2010.  As a member of this organization it is expected that the member countries will comply with the fundamental principles of ASEAN which are set out in its Charter:

* Promoting regional peace and identity, peaceful settlements of disputes through dialogue and consultation, and the renunciation of aggression.
* Upholding international law with respect to human rights, social justice and multilateral trade.
* Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner (1976)

The Bat Nha Monastery, in the Lam Dong province, has been attacked and destroyed, and aggression and violence have been used to evict 400 peaceful Monks and Nuns.  This is in contradiction of international law.  It ignores human rights and social justice stated as one of the principles of ASEAN. Although Vietnam denies intervening in “internal or local disputes”, the government’s non intervention reflects the current state of the country’s lawlessness and lack of leadership.

We urge the Vietnamese Government to intervene and ensure that the Bat Nha Monastery is allowed to live and practise in peace as law abiding Vietnamese citizens.

We call on the current Chairman of ASEAN, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to initiate a re-evaluation of the appointment of Vietnam to the position of Chair 2010, in view of the Vietnamese Government’s non intervention in this crisis.

We ask for ASEAN influence to ensure that the 400 monastics be offered every assistance.  They have been targeted merely for practicing their beliefs and now need help in terms of security of accommodation, freedom from harassment and freedom to practice their religious beliefs without persecution.

We have faith that ASEAN have the power to reduce the violence that is happening right now and restore peace.

An URGENT petition against violence in the Buddhist Monastery Bat Nha in Vietnam.

At this very time the monks and nuns of Bat Nha are being dragged out of their monastery with  force by a mob of vandalists, policmen, hired troops that uses much violence and aggression. The monks and nuns have been beaten up and pushed in trucks. They are being threatened to be killed if they do not obey.

We are asking you urgently to speak up against the continuing violence and for the protection of the lives of 400 monks and nuns.

A difficult, immediate situation in Vietnam, has arisen. Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Thich Nhat Hanh’s Vietnam-based Bat Nha monastery is under severe economic, violent, and governmental pressure to abandon the monastery by September 2. The cause: Two statements supporting religious freedom, a core principle of democracy.

For that, they have been harassed day and night with loud speakers, threatened that they would be killed on July 5th by 400 tribal people with metal sticks or sickles, had their electricity and water cut off, their homes robbed, and have suffered innumerable verbal abuses. The monastery serves as a training and practice center in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh’s home monastery, Plum Village in France.

These 400 Monastics who practice  Thich Nhat Hanh%u2019s teachings  are all Vietnam citizens. These gentle, peaceful creatures seek to sooth the world’s ills, bridge understanding between all faiths, and spread greater world, human and environmental peace. The love they bring to the table is simply amazing to behold.

The Vietnamese government cannot point to one specific reason for the nuns and monks to be evicted from their home. They have cited ownerships issues,  failure to  pay the electric bill  and a myriad of other manufactured reasons.

The nuns and monks, all Vietnam citizens .As of  26th of August 2009, they are approaching their 9th week without water and electricity

Please act on behalf  of global human rights and Viet Nam and peace. Please stop this violence and help save Bat Nha Monastery now. We are hoping that US political pressure and community activists who are being mobilized online will  help them keep their home. At a minimum, they believe an extension beyond the Sept. 2, 2009 deadline will support them in taking peaceful, non violent action to work with local officials.

As you know, Vietnam has a troubled  history. The best thing we could possible do for this country is fight to keep this soothing salve in place, quietly working its magic of openness, peace and tolerance. And let’s try to prevent another horrific act of violence and bloodshed in Vietnam’s history.

Please act on behalf global human rights and Viet Nam. Please stop this violence and help save Bat Nha Monastary now.

Dear Beloved Community,

Please help us sign this petition to the Vietnamese Government addressed to the Vietnamese Consulate in San Francisco. Please ask your friends and loved ones to sign it as well. We intend to send it by July 21, 2009.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 12, 2009

Mr. Le Quoc Hung, Consul General

Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco
1700 California St, Suite 430 San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone: (415)922-1707 (415)922-1577 Fax: (415)922-1848 (415)922-1757
E-mail: info@vietnamconsulate-sf.org

RE: URGENT Request for Vietnamese Central Government action to alleviate the tension of the residents of Bat Nha Monastery, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam.

Dear Honorable Consul General,
Dear Respected Vietnamese Governmental Leaders,
Dear Committees of Religious Affairs of Vietnam,

We are writing today to bring to your immediate attention a worsening crisis in Vietnam and urging the government to intervene to protect peace-loving young Vietnamese citizens at the Bat Nha Monastery in Lam Dong Province. A group of 400 young monks and nuns living at the monastery for over four years now are being continually harassed by local monks and villagers, while the local government officials stand by in disregard. These young monastics have been repeatedly kept from meeting their most basic human needs of food and water for over two weeks now. This situation has not resolved itself in several weeks and is worsening.

In the strongest terms possible, we urge the Vietnamese Government to intervene and ensure that this community is allowed to live in peace as law abiding Vietnamese citizens and to have safe access to food, water, and electricity, all of which are basic human rights. We trust that when the Central Government is made aware of this provincial situation, they will help bring peace to the people of this area.

These 400 monks and nuns have lived at the Bat Nha Monastery, Hamlet 13, Dambri Village, Bao Loc District, Lam Dong Province since 2005. They have invested considerable energy and money (over US$1 million) in improving the monastery grounds and supporting the local community. They are not a political body and seek only to practice mindfulness and to serve others.

As it stands there are parties who have come into the monastery grounds, have cut water and communication lines, and are harassing the 400 monks and nuns living there. When attempts were made to install a well for water, the workers were threatened and the project was abandoned. The tension level has increased and the monks and nuns are threatened with attacks. Some are too afraid to go outside to secure water and food for their needs. The local police has stood by, without intervening to bring peace. In addition, phone and internet lines have also been cut. More details of the situation can be found at http://helpbatnha.org website that is being maintained by international supporters of the monastery.

It is imperative that the Vietnamese government step in and handle this situation under the international laws of human rights. These 400 young monks and nuns have done nothing wrong, yet now their basic human rights are taken away, affecting their health and well being. This is not a political or religious issue—it is a human rights issue.

The monks and nuns are the sons and daughters of Vietnam. They deserve the protection from their government and the freedom to peacefully meet their basic human needs in safety. We know that the country has steadily improved its record with regards to human and religious rights at the start of this new millennium and we are confident that the government will do what is right and dutiful and continue on this path of fairness and openness.

We urge your immediate action to help resolve this situation.