Dear brother and sister Christians, journalists and all those of good will,

We want to bring to your attention recent human rights violations by the Vietnam government and a new wave of persecutions it is conducting against Catholics in Vietnam.

Dear friends,

In the last episode of the conflict between Thai Ha parish and Vietnamese authorities, police has repeatedly harassed Hanoi Redemptorists by summoning them to investigation departments. Typically, during Saturday April 25, police sent to Thai Ha Monastery three “urgent summoning orders” asking Fr. Peter Nguyen Van Khai, the spokesperson of Hanoi Redemptorists to present “in person” at Hanoi Criminal Investigation Department for the "clarification of a number of documents".

Harassments against Hanoi Redemptorists occurred immediately after Fr. Matthew Vu Khoi Phung, the Superior of Hanoi Monastery, sent a complaint to various government organs asking for the suspension of a construction project at the 18,230 square meters area surrounding Lake Ba Giang which has been legally owned and managed by Thai Ha parish - the Redemptorist Monastery.

Citing article 70 in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1992 which states "The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law", Fr. Matthew Vu strongly denounced the current situation of the area: “our land is being invaded and construction project has been illegally started.”

“We request the Dong Da District's People Committee to take actions by ordering the suspension of construction project being in progress at the Lake Ba Giang area, ceasing all work related-activities, pulling out all equipments and machinery from the premise of Thai Ha parish-Redemptorists in Hanoi,” wrote Fr. Matthew Vu.

In response to his letter, a series of summoning orders have been sent to Thai Ha Monastery threatening “criminal investigations” against his congregation.

Dear friends,

The situation has become extremely serious with a new wave of defamatory attacks from State run media. They have attacked fiercely two Catholic priests accusing them of causing critical damage to the national unity block, the national construction and development process; and plotting to overthrow the communist regime - a capital offense in Vietnam.

On Sunday April 26, the newspaper New Hanoi, ran by Hanoi City Party Committee, opened a new wave of defamatory attacks against Thai Ha parish. This time, it aimed at Fr. Peter Nguyen Van Khai, the spokesperson of Thai Ha Redemptorist Monastery denouncing him of “instigating parishioners in order to sow divisions, inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law and instigating others to violate it.”

The newspaper criticized Fr. Peter Nguyen for organizing a candlelight prayer vigil on Saturday night to protest a construction project at a lakeside belonged to Thai Ha parish.

Dear friends,

Soon after Easter, local government suddenly started a construction project at the 18,230 square meters area surrounding Lake Ba Giang which has been legally owned and managed by Thai Ha parish. The faithful protested the construction asking for an immediate suspension of the project and legal process to solve the issue peacefully.

They also prayed for the government and expressed their opposition against its plans for bauxite mining in Vietnam's Central Highlands by signing a petition against the mine. By criticizing the government bauxite plans, they joined a diverse collection of scientists, intellectuals, and former officials who have opposed these plans stating that the environmental and social damage of the mine would far outweigh any economic benefit.

Prior to the candlelight prayer vigil, police repeatedly sent to Thai Ha Monastery “urgent summoning orders” asking Fr. Peter Nguyen to present “in person” at Hanoi Criminal Investigation Department for the "clarification of a number of documents". It was seen as a threatening tactic designed to destroy the vigil.

Dear friends,

On Monday April 27, the Capital Security newspaper joined the New Hanoi attacking Fr. Peter Nguyen of teaching false church doctrine to incite riots against the government while the later turned to another Redemptorist priest in Saigon, Fr. Joseph Le Quang Uy. He became a victim of the paper because he had openly criticized the plans and set up a Web site asking Catholics in Vietnam and abroad to sign electronically a petition for an immediate suspension of bauxite mining in Vietnam's Central Highlands.

The paper accused Fr. Joseph Le of “stupidity”; “ignorance”; causing critical damage to the national unity block, the national construction and development process; and plotting to overthrow the communist regime.

In both the articles, the paper called Vietnam government for “immediate and severe punishments” against the two priests “before they go so far”. The accusations leveled against the two priests, especially “the sin” of plotting to overthrow communist regime - an offense that leads to capital punishment, were so severe that many have believed that Vietnam government has been preparing public opinions for imminent crackdowns.

Dear friends,

Criticisms against the government plans for bauxite mining in Vietnam's Central Highlands have not only come from Catholics. Earlier this month, a dissident Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Do, said that strip mining would destroy the way of life of the region's ethnic minorities.

The most unexpected criticism has come from General Vo Nguyen Giap, a revered Vietnamese military leader who helped defeat the French and later the Americans. In a letter to Vietnam's Prime Minister, the 97-year-old general voiced his concern over the presence of large numbers of Chinese in the Central Highlands, which is a strategic gateway to Vietnam.

Also, at a seminar in Hanoi earlier this month, most of the over 50 scientists in attendance said that government plans for bauxite mining and processing projects covering over 1,800 square kilometers in the mountainous Central Highlands would cause irreversible environmental damage.

Dear friends,

Please pray for us and do whatever you can to help us in this difficult point of time.