Huong Son, Ha Tinh – "How much more can we take it?" That is the question many parishioners of Ke Mui, Huong Son, Ha Tinh are raising in relation to the growing problem of violence that they have to suffer since they began to peacefully protest demanding the return of their parish land which the authorities illegally seized in 1950s.
Using gang to attack and threaten protestors is seen as an effective tactic that police in Vietnam has begun to employ to deal with the protest of parishioners of Ke Mui, a village in Ha Tinh province, central Vietnam.
Earlier this month, after a series of their petitions for the requisition of their parish land have gone unanswered, hundreds of parishioners gathered in front of the People’s Committee of Huong Son District asking to discuss the issue with the officials. During the meeting, parishioner leaders were told that local government owns the parish land in dispute and that the government would return their land only if they could pay a huge amount of money.
Parishioners refused to settle the issue that way and continued to protest. The next day, many groups of gang were carried to the site in police trucks to attack the protestors. Parishioners were beaten and chased away. Despite that, the protestors returned the following day to make a silent sit-in protest. Again, street gangs were called to smash the protest.
In the wave of harsh violence from the government, Catholic activists had to call off their protests. Even so, motorcycle gangs were sent to Ke Mui storming into the area surrounding the church in large numbers, verbally attacking the parishioners. And also physically attacked them. A parishioner, Mrs. Phung Thi Lieu, was hit by a motorcycle. One of her rib was wounded.
Using gang to attack and threaten protestors is seen as an effective tactic that police in Vietnam has begun to employ to deal with the protest of parishioners of Ke Mui, a village in Ha Tinh province, central Vietnam.
Earlier this month, after a series of their petitions for the requisition of their parish land have gone unanswered, hundreds of parishioners gathered in front of the People’s Committee of Huong Son District asking to discuss the issue with the officials. During the meeting, parishioner leaders were told that local government owns the parish land in dispute and that the government would return their land only if they could pay a huge amount of money.
Parishioners refused to settle the issue that way and continued to protest. The next day, many groups of gang were carried to the site in police trucks to attack the protestors. Parishioners were beaten and chased away. Despite that, the protestors returned the following day to make a silent sit-in protest. Again, street gangs were called to smash the protest.
In the wave of harsh violence from the government, Catholic activists had to call off their protests. Even so, motorcycle gangs were sent to Ke Mui storming into the area surrounding the church in large numbers, verbally attacking the parishioners. And also physically attacked them. A parishioner, Mrs. Phung Thi Lieu, was hit by a motorcycle. One of her rib was wounded.