In a commonly practiced tactic to uproot opponents whose leadership among ordinary citizens is being viewed as a threat to the current regime, Vietnam's state run media have fiercely attacked two Redemptorist 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, initiated 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 cause divisions, inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law and instigating others to violate it.”
Fr. Peter Nguyen was also criticized for organizing a candlelight prayer vigil on Saturday night to protest a construction project at a lakeside belonged to Thai Ha parish.
The lake Ba Giang incident was the latest move from the government which caused much anxiety and upset among the priests and Thai Ha parishioners and led to the above-mentioned prayer vigil. 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 a 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 plans which have been confirmed by Vietnam prime minister as "a major policy for the state and the (Communist) party". By criticizing the government bauxite plans, they joined a diverse collection of scientists, intellectuals, former officials and countless of Vietnamese at home and abroad who have adamantly opposed these plans citing detrimental, long term environmental and social damage from this exploitation would 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" regardless of the fact that Fr. Khai has many pastoral duties to fulfill on weekend as a priest. It was seen as a threatening tactic designed to destroy the vigil.
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 mocked 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. His title as “Reverend” was frequently omitted on purpose.
In all the articles, the paper called Vietnam government for “immediate and severe punishment” against the two priests “before they go too 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 an imminent crackdowns.
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. His view was highly regarded and his call for action was widely supported by many fellow citizens.
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.
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| The Candlelight prayer vigil on Saturday April 24 |
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| Parishioners signed petitions |
On Sunday April 26, the newspaper New Hanoi, ran by Hanoi City Party Committee, initiated 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 cause divisions, inciting riots, falsely accusing the government, disrespecting the nation, breaking and ridiculing the law and instigating others to violate it.”
Fr. Peter Nguyen was also criticized for organizing a candlelight prayer vigil on Saturday night to protest a construction project at a lakeside belonged to Thai Ha parish.
The lake Ba Giang incident was the latest move from the government which caused much anxiety and upset among the priests and Thai Ha parishioners and led to the above-mentioned prayer vigil. 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 a 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 plans which have been confirmed by Vietnam prime minister as "a major policy for the state and the (Communist) party". By criticizing the government bauxite plans, they joined a diverse collection of scientists, intellectuals, former officials and countless of Vietnamese at home and abroad who have adamantly opposed these plans citing detrimental, long term environmental and social damage from this exploitation would 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" regardless of the fact that Fr. Khai has many pastoral duties to fulfill on weekend as a priest. It was seen as a threatening tactic designed to destroy the vigil.
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 mocked 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. His title as “Reverend” was frequently omitted on purpose.
In all the articles, the paper called Vietnam government for “immediate and severe punishment” against the two priests “before they go too 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 an imminent crackdowns.
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. His view was highly regarded and his call for action was widely supported by many fellow citizens.
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.