Police in Hanoi have launched a criminal investigation into Catholic protests over the government's refusal to return the land of Hanoi Redemptorist monastery.
In Wednesday press briefing, Vu Cong Long, a police officer from Dong Da district told reporters that the Vietnamese government is seeking legal action against Hanoi Redemptorists. They are accused of abusing their influence to incite followers to confront the Communist government, destroying state-owned properties, gathering and praying illegally in public areas, and disturbing public order.
Vu Cong Long also criticized the provincial superior of the Redemptorists in Vietnam, Fr Vincent Nguyen Trung Thanh, for his letter released on Sunday 24th August, in which he renewed the charge that the local government had illegally seized monastery land, and urged all Redemptorists of Vietnam to be in solidarity with those of Hanoi announcing a protest vigil at the Saigon Redemptorist monastery on 28 August.
In response to the threats, Hanoi Redemptorists say that they are prepared to go to jail for their flock and justice. They vow to continue protests until the justice prevails.
Catholic circle in Hanoi consider the investigation as a new form of intimidation after a campaign of threats and false accusations on state-run media.
Catholic protests at Hanoi Redemptorist monastery broke out at the beginning of 2008 when the government allowed construction to begin at the site for the Chien Thang sewing company. The dispute came to a climax just after a group of French pilgrims, returning from World Youth Day by way of Vietnam, stopped to pray on the disputed site to show their solidarity with the protestors.
Local authorities have repeatedly ordered the Hanoi Redemptorists to remove the cross and all statues of the Virgin Mary from the site, and to stop praying at the site. Demonstrators were also threatened with “extreme action” if they would not remove their camping tents.
In the last episode, last Sunday, Catholics led a peaceful demonstration at the site in an open defiance of the local government orders to free the area and disperse demonstrations.
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| Vu Cong Long in Wednesday press briefing |
Vu Cong Long also criticized the provincial superior of the Redemptorists in Vietnam, Fr Vincent Nguyen Trung Thanh, for his letter released on Sunday 24th August, in which he renewed the charge that the local government had illegally seized monastery land, and urged all Redemptorists of Vietnam to be in solidarity with those of Hanoi announcing a protest vigil at the Saigon Redemptorist monastery on 28 August.
In response to the threats, Hanoi Redemptorists say that they are prepared to go to jail for their flock and justice. They vow to continue protests until the justice prevails.
Catholic circle in Hanoi consider the investigation as a new form of intimidation after a campaign of threats and false accusations on state-run media.
Catholic protests at Hanoi Redemptorist monastery broke out at the beginning of 2008 when the government allowed construction to begin at the site for the Chien Thang sewing company. The dispute came to a climax just after a group of French pilgrims, returning from World Youth Day by way of Vietnam, stopped to pray on the disputed site to show their solidarity with the protestors.
Local authorities have repeatedly ordered the Hanoi Redemptorists to remove the cross and all statues of the Virgin Mary from the site, and to stop praying at the site. Demonstrators were also threatened with “extreme action” if they would not remove their camping tents.
In the last episode, last Sunday, Catholics led a peaceful demonstration at the site in an open defiance of the local government orders to free the area and disperse demonstrations.