A Vietnamese official has denied repressive actions of his government against parishioners of Dong Chiem Parish.
“Local authorities did not crack down on parishioners,” the deputy chairman of the My Duc District People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Hau, told the state-run Vietnam News Agency. He added that the information was distorted.
According to Hau, Fr. Nguyen Van Huu, the pastor, the parish’s council, and several parishioners illegally erected the cross on the top of Che Mountain (also known as Nui Tho – Worship Mountain) on March 3 and 4 last year.
“The construction violates the Land Law,” the district official said. He said Che Mountain did not lie in land of Dong Chiem Church but was managed by An Phu Commune’s People’s Committee.
“Additionally, the construction of the cross without permit from authorised agencies constitutes a breach of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion,” Hau said.
“Local authorities had tried to solve the issue through a series of talks with Fr Huu and parishioners between March and December last year, but failed to receive co-operation from any of them,” he added.
Yesterday, the New Hanoi newspaper went further asking its government for the immediate and severe punishment against the archdiocese of Hanoi and Fr. Nguyen Van Huu for their “false accusations” in order to “distort the social, political and economic situation of Vietnam, and denounce the government for human rights violations.”
However, Lieu, the Chief of Communist Party at Dong Chiem, had confirmed in written form the crackdown on parishioners of hundreds of police expressing his disagreement on the dismantlement of the crucifix.
In response to accusations against the archdiocese, Fr. John Le Trong Cung, Vice Chancellor of Hanoi Archbishopric, insisted that “The mount has always been in the ownership of the parish since its establishment more than a hundred years ago.”
Along with bishops of all northern dioceses of Vietnam, Fr. John Le condemned the demolition of the crucifix as “an act of sacrilege to the Christ,” and “insult to the most sacred symbol of the Christian faith and of the Church.”
“The brutally assault against the unarmed, innocent civilians is a savage and inhumane act as human dignity is severely hurt. This gross conduct should be condemned!” he added.
As a matter of fact, "There had been a crucifix at the site for years. We just reinforeced it last year. But it had been there," said Fr. Nguyen Van Huu, the parish's pastor.
In Dong Chiem, “Local authorities have installed loudspeakers on electrical posts surrounding the church to spill out all sort of noise to disrupt our Masses,” said Fr. Nguyen Van Lien, assistant priest of the parish.
“They read articles of the New Hanoi newspaper, and other governmental statements falsely accusing us and threatening extreme actions,” he added.
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| Statement of the Chief of Communist Party at Dong Chiem |
According to Hau, Fr. Nguyen Van Huu, the pastor, the parish’s council, and several parishioners illegally erected the cross on the top of Che Mountain (also known as Nui Tho – Worship Mountain) on March 3 and 4 last year.
“The construction violates the Land Law,” the district official said. He said Che Mountain did not lie in land of Dong Chiem Church but was managed by An Phu Commune’s People’s Committee.
“Additionally, the construction of the cross without permit from authorised agencies constitutes a breach of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion,” Hau said.
“Local authorities had tried to solve the issue through a series of talks with Fr Huu and parishioners between March and December last year, but failed to receive co-operation from any of them,” he added.
Yesterday, the New Hanoi newspaper went further asking its government for the immediate and severe punishment against the archdiocese of Hanoi and Fr. Nguyen Van Huu for their “false accusations” in order to “distort the social, political and economic situation of Vietnam, and denounce the government for human rights violations.”
However, Lieu, the Chief of Communist Party at Dong Chiem, had confirmed in written form the crackdown on parishioners of hundreds of police expressing his disagreement on the dismantlement of the crucifix.
In response to accusations against the archdiocese, Fr. John Le Trong Cung, Vice Chancellor of Hanoi Archbishopric, insisted that “The mount has always been in the ownership of the parish since its establishment more than a hundred years ago.”
Along with bishops of all northern dioceses of Vietnam, Fr. John Le condemned the demolition of the crucifix as “an act of sacrilege to the Christ,” and “insult to the most sacred symbol of the Christian faith and of the Church.”
“The brutally assault against the unarmed, innocent civilians is a savage and inhumane act as human dignity is severely hurt. This gross conduct should be condemned!” he added.
As a matter of fact, "There had been a crucifix at the site for years. We just reinforeced it last year. But it had been there," said Fr. Nguyen Van Huu, the parish's pastor.
In Dong Chiem, “Local authorities have installed loudspeakers on electrical posts surrounding the church to spill out all sort of noise to disrupt our Masses,” said Fr. Nguyen Van Lien, assistant priest of the parish.
“They read articles of the New Hanoi newspaper, and other governmental statements falsely accusing us and threatening extreme actions,” he added.