On July 26, 2009, in an unprecedented event in Vietnam, the diocese of Vinh organized peaceful parades to protest over brutal police beatings and arrests of parishioners in Tam Toa. The church of Tam Toa was bombed to crumbles during the Vietnam War. After the war, the Vietnamese government confiscated the church to leave it as an “Americans’ War Crimes Memorial Site.”
Recently, worshippers setup a temporary altar to conduct mass services. During a violent police raid, they have been beaten brutally with batons and stun guns. Many have been detained but seven are still behind bars waiting to be prosecuted with "counter-revolutionary" charges.
The number of protesters is believed to be hundreds of thousands, led by 170 priests and 420 religious. Clashes have been reported and two priests are in critical conditions after being beaten brutally by the police. Gatherings and vigils are coordinated in major cities all around the country to support the Tam Toa event.
Recently, worshippers setup a temporary altar to conduct mass services. During a violent police raid, they have been beaten brutally with batons and stun guns. Many have been detained but seven are still behind bars waiting to be prosecuted with "counter-revolutionary" charges.
The number of protesters is believed to be hundreds of thousands, led by 170 priests and 420 religious. Clashes have been reported and two priests are in critical conditions after being beaten brutally by the police. Gatherings and vigils are coordinated in major cities all around the country to support the Tam Toa event.