Hanoi, Jun. 5, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Catholics in Vietnam's central Ha Tinh province faced mounting violence as they continue a protest campaign aimed at forcing the return of parish land that was seized by the Communist government in the 1950s.
Parishioners in the village of Ke Mui began public protests after local officials ignored their pleas for return of the land. In response, demonstrators report, police trucked in gang members to assault them. When the parishioners returned the next day, gang members again broke up their protest.
While the Catholic activists discontinued their public demonstrations, motorcycle gangs arrived in Ke Mui, apparently to intimidate critics of the government, eyewitnesses say. One Catholic woman was injured when she was struck by a passing motorcyclist; other parishioners report verbal abuse.
Parishioners in the village of Ke Mui began public protests after local officials ignored their pleas for return of the land. In response, demonstrators report, police trucked in gang members to assault them. When the parishioners returned the next day, gang members again broke up their protest.
While the Catholic activists discontinued their public demonstrations, motorcycle gangs arrived in Ke Mui, apparently to intimidate critics of the government, eyewitnesses say. One Catholic woman was injured when she was struck by a passing motorcyclist; other parishioners report verbal abuse.