HA NOI (UCAN December 9, 2008) -- Thousands of Catholics publicly welcomed eight other Church members following their trial on charges of disturbing public order and damaging public property, related to a Church-government land dispute.
Supporters from the capital and neighboring provinces cheered, clapped, and offered congratulations and flowers to the defendants and their lawyers as they walked out of the hall of the People's Committee of O Cho Dua ward late on Dec. 8 afternoon.
The eight Catholics were found guilty, but seven were given suspended prison sentences ranging from 12 to 17 months, and the other was let off with a warning.
Well-wishers hoisted defendants in the air, shed tears and shouted "Innocent!" and "Justice wins!" Then they walked in procession through Ha Noi streets to Thai Ha church. A thanksgiving Mass there also marked the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Redemptorist Father Pierre Nguyen Van Khai, the only priest allowed to attend the 7-hour trial, told UCA News that Nguyen Thi Nhi, 46, an ethnic Muong woman from Hoa Binh province, was given a 17-month suspended sentence for causing social disturbance and six others aged 31-63 were given suspended sentences of 12-15 months for damaging public property and causing social disturbance.
The youngest defendant, 21-year-old Thai Thanh Hai from Thai Ha parish, was given a warning, added the priest. He and other Redemptorists run the parish.
The defendants were among hundreds of Catholics who occupied a former plot of Church land near the church on Aug. 15. They put crosses and Marian statues on the plot, which the government confiscated in the early 1960s.
Six of the defendants were under house arrest until the trial began. But Nhi and Ngo Thi Dung, another woman, were kept in custody and were to be released within 24 hours following the trial, Redemptorists said.
"We believe that those accusations and sentences for the eight lay Catholics are unjust because they have not violated the laws," Father Khai, 38, stated in a letter to local Catholics. He asked them to "continue praying for the eight victims for justice and truth."
The parish will continue to do its best to uphold the honor of the victims, he added, saying they plan to file appeals.
After attending early morning Mass on Dec. 8, hundreds of local Catholics accompanied the six defendants not in custody -- the four men well-dressed and the two women in red ao dai (traditional Vietnamese attire) -- on the two-kilometer march to court.
Led by a dozen local Redemptorists, the defendants and many people with cycad leaves -- a traditional symbol of martyrdom -- carried crosses and images of Mary, Queen of Peace.
Iron barriers had been placed on the streets leading to the trial building, which hundreds of security officers guarded. Only the defendants, their relatives and Father Khai were allowed to enter the building, where they proceeded to the fourth-floor hall for the hearing.
During the trial, Catholics sat on sidewalks, praying and singing hymns. Many held placards, some reading "You are victims," "We are innocent," "God be with you" and "We want to go to prison instead of you."
At the church afterward, Father Khai told Massgoers what happened in court. He said he told authorities the sentences were unfair since the defendants were innocent. Father Khai, who was interrupted many times by applause, said attaches from some foreign embassies were present in court.
Redemptorist Father Matthew Vu Khoi Phung, the parish priest, led the special Mass with other priests concelebrating. Father Phung told the congregation that Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Ha Noi was happy about the result of the trial. The Church leader and other priests at his residence prayed for the defendants that day, and a priest present outside the court kept them informed of developments, Father Phung said.
A local Church source told UCA News many Catholics and priests from Hue archdiocese who gathered at the La Vang national Marian shrine that day prayed for the defendants.
Catholics told UCA News the sentences were unjust because the defendants did not break any law. Some said they believed the trial was moved to the Marian feast day and the defendants saved through the Blessed Mother's intercession.
(Source: UCAN http://www.ucanews.com/2008/12/09/catholics-welcome-defendants-freedom-while-condemning-guilty-verdict/)
Supporters from the capital and neighboring provinces cheered, clapped, and offered congratulations and flowers to the defendants and their lawyers as they walked out of the hall of the People's Committee of O Cho Dua ward late on Dec. 8 afternoon.
The eight Catholics were found guilty, but seven were given suspended prison sentences ranging from 12 to 17 months, and the other was let off with a warning.
Well-wishers hoisted defendants in the air, shed tears and shouted "Innocent!" and "Justice wins!" Then they walked in procession through Ha Noi streets to Thai Ha church. A thanksgiving Mass there also marked the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Redemptorist Father Pierre Nguyen Van Khai, the only priest allowed to attend the 7-hour trial, told UCA News that Nguyen Thi Nhi, 46, an ethnic Muong woman from Hoa Binh province, was given a 17-month suspended sentence for causing social disturbance and six others aged 31-63 were given suspended sentences of 12-15 months for damaging public property and causing social disturbance.
The youngest defendant, 21-year-old Thai Thanh Hai from Thai Ha parish, was given a warning, added the priest. He and other Redemptorists run the parish.
The defendants were among hundreds of Catholics who occupied a former plot of Church land near the church on Aug. 15. They put crosses and Marian statues on the plot, which the government confiscated in the early 1960s.
Six of the defendants were under house arrest until the trial began. But Nhi and Ngo Thi Dung, another woman, were kept in custody and were to be released within 24 hours following the trial, Redemptorists said.
"We believe that those accusations and sentences for the eight lay Catholics are unjust because they have not violated the laws," Father Khai, 38, stated in a letter to local Catholics. He asked them to "continue praying for the eight victims for justice and truth."
The parish will continue to do its best to uphold the honor of the victims, he added, saying they plan to file appeals.
After attending early morning Mass on Dec. 8, hundreds of local Catholics accompanied the six defendants not in custody -- the four men well-dressed and the two women in red ao dai (traditional Vietnamese attire) -- on the two-kilometer march to court.
Led by a dozen local Redemptorists, the defendants and many people with cycad leaves -- a traditional symbol of martyrdom -- carried crosses and images of Mary, Queen of Peace.
Iron barriers had been placed on the streets leading to the trial building, which hundreds of security officers guarded. Only the defendants, their relatives and Father Khai were allowed to enter the building, where they proceeded to the fourth-floor hall for the hearing.
During the trial, Catholics sat on sidewalks, praying and singing hymns. Many held placards, some reading "You are victims," "We are innocent," "God be with you" and "We want to go to prison instead of you."
At the church afterward, Father Khai told Massgoers what happened in court. He said he told authorities the sentences were unfair since the defendants were innocent. Father Khai, who was interrupted many times by applause, said attaches from some foreign embassies were present in court.
Redemptorist Father Matthew Vu Khoi Phung, the parish priest, led the special Mass with other priests concelebrating. Father Phung told the congregation that Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Ha Noi was happy about the result of the trial. The Church leader and other priests at his residence prayed for the defendants that day, and a priest present outside the court kept them informed of developments, Father Phung said.
A local Church source told UCA News many Catholics and priests from Hue archdiocese who gathered at the La Vang national Marian shrine that day prayed for the defendants.
Catholics told UCA News the sentences were unjust because the defendants did not break any law. Some said they believed the trial was moved to the Marian feast day and the defendants saved through the Blessed Mother's intercession.
(Source: UCAN http://www.ucanews.com/2008/12/09/catholics-welcome-defendants-freedom-while-condemning-guilty-verdict/)