Many Hoa Hao Buddhists self-immolation declared ready

                       

                THE TRUTH - JUSTICE - LOVE




Dominhtuyen

Religious persecution in Vietnam, a problem of people, of the religion for years endured and become more serious especially after the revolution "Arab spring" break out in the Middle East and North Africa to overthrow the dictatorship inhuman cruelty. Government of Vietnam's communist government began to increase the crackdown in the country that is largely focused on their religion is where the vast influence in society, in the country and can promote unpopular action creates a risk of confrontation with the authorities, resulting in social unrest, which are detrimental to the interests of power and leadership of the party and state authorities, even though they may fear collapse leading to the current regime with a similar revolution called "Jasmine Revolution ...."


Religions are the most popular targets under the sight of government such as Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist Unification, Hoa Hao Buddhism, the religion by the authorities listed the most dangerous element for the achievement mode for carrying anti-communist tradition ever. Especially the Vietnam Catholic Church, a religion is said to be radically anti-Communist from South to North. This has been shown in past stance on determining the views of people at that time between the Republican Liberal and Socialism Communism. Millions of Vietnam which is most likely to convert to Catholicism who had fled to South Vietnam after living in northern Vietnam was Communist Party came to power. This is also the cause of ideological hostility of Vietnam's communist government led to the massacre of thousands of innocent Catholics at events as "Mau Than" in 1968 after communist North Vietnamese occupied Thua Thien Hue for nearly a month.


The communist state government increased religious crackdown has caused much concern for the International Human Rights Organization and the countries of the world. In the United States, in recent times, the Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and many Senators and Representatives U.S. Congress had strongly urged the U.S. State Department quickly put Vietnam back on the list CPC of the country have more rights violation Religious Freedom serious and continuous nature. According to the officials identified this from Vietnam after the trade as the achievement joins the global trade (WTO), normalization with the United States permanently (PNTR) to become members or not permanent Security Council UN almost then communist government of Vietnam are swallowing promise of respect and improve human rights.





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Vietnamese> Current Affairs
Many Hoa Hao Buddhists self-immolation declared ready
Thanh Quang, RFA reporter
2012-02-24

According to the Hoa Hao Buddhist Association based in central California, United States, the evening of 21 February last, the monks, lay Hoa Hao were numerous police stopped the assault.


Source PGHH.org
Gateway to the Hoa Hao Buddhist temple
 in An Giang An Hoa Tu



The incident occurred after the Hoa Hao Buddhist mindfulness Street from Nguyen Van Teo of lay people in seven villages of Phu, Vinh Chau and Chau Doc town, An Giang province. Suppression action, making a believer in the group laced gasoline, ready to sacrifice for the law.

Willingness to self-immolation

After practicing in the lay Buddhist concept Nguyen Van Teo, 13 Hoa Hao police traffic Chau Doc town police coordination Vinh Chau of about 30 people, using vans, trucks motorcycles machines, electric batons ... blocking the way Buddha Recitation Road about 1 ½ kilometers. A faithful present at the time, Mr. Nguyen Van Manh, said:

The adherents of Nguyen Van Manh:  Well after the Buddhist concept of Buddha Recitation Road at co-director Nguyen Van Teo come out of the clergy, laity police blocked roads to hard, cruel oppression. While pressing in response to the same group on the gas In the Heart.

According to Bui Van Trung monk who was next to the co-religionist Pham Huu Tam - mean is Nam Tam, is willing to sacrifice act as director of the Hoa Hao led the police relented:

If the police at that time rush into is co-religionist Nam Tam said: Both of us of the sacrifice of all, let people see that, a person died of a Party and a sacrifice of Religion. But the police had just rushed into was hury up to get out and not always dare to rush in.
Bui Van Trung Tu


Hoa Hao followers persecuted stop in time
 to prepare before the ceremony. RFA files



Bui Van Trung believers:  If the police at that time rush into is co-religionist Nam Tam said: Both of us of the sacrifice of all, let people see that a person died of a Party and a sacrifice of Religion. But the police had rushed into was hury up to get out and not always dare to rush in. Finally, the police gestured for us to go away, but often they are not easily let go - hard enough to make out. At that time, co-religionist Nam Tam had gasoline himself, lighter tubes are just swipe your hand is always fighting. But if fire is burning to death, not to fire unjust. Fire injustice suffered defeat by the Communists as this.

This time, like many other religious crackdown, police also provided invaluable support of the black society - which says Thich Nhat Hanh said the Prajna Monastery in Lam Dong was bloodily suppressed, that "but the two that they are one." Lay Bui Van Trung said:


Bui Van Trung believers:  that day, there's tattooing full gangsters who stood outside, very crowd. The government associated with them. If we must burn for burn completely, for burn continuosly. Also, if be fired that they could extinguish is awkward. If we are not careful the same swipe up and we fire that they rush into to extinguish fire and then they bring down to care of disease may be adopted for our very dangerous.

And believers Bui Van Trung told the events for that day:


Bui Van Trung believers: When finished the Buddhist concept of being about a half kilometers, the traffic police Chau Doc town police commune with over 30 people, which is used vans and trucks to passenger cars, electric batons ... stop the monks, our lay back, the first stop is the co-religionist Nam Tam. Then they check the car. Our cars have valid papers, but they do not turn back the papers of vehicle.


Hoa Hao followers blocked the day of  Huynh 
 Cardinals in An Giang (artwork 2008)


They just keep both people and keep the car. So our brothers have no way then, just explanation for the police that:  In the life, people who wine, women and song, to disturb that the police not arrested, but we are religious, living for religion but if not be allowed, we will take the martyrdom.
Bui Van Trung monks

They just keep people, keep the car. So our brothers have no way then, just explanation for the police that: In the life, people who wine,women and song, to disturb that police not arrested, but we are religious, living for religion but if not be allowed, we will take the martyrdom. So the co-religionist Nam Tam just have filled gasoline up himself. Finally the police to reach out, but have continued struggling on less than 30 minutes, making co-religionist Nam Tam was burned out. Just filled up, not burning, but it's hot, burn whole body. Up to now is still heavy.

Nguyen Van Teo lay in Buddha Recitation Bay Road in the hamlet of Phu, Vinh Chau said expressed his discontent - if not the anger - before the police action, and noted that the authorities are the local intention to suppress the practice, while neglecting the elimination of social evils:


Nguyen Van Teo lay:  Yes Chau Doc government, strictly speaking, truely the treatment to citizens is wrong. Because they robbed the property of the people and that they intended to rob the 2nd property to add more. Because the authorities, they did not correct, then they just do co-religionists repression. The place of social evils they did not stay there they just only picks on religious persecution.

Martyrs

We know that Buddha Recitation lay from Nguyen Van Teo opened about 6-7 weeks now. In the first three weeks the police have " allowance ", but not very heavy-handed action, and to make records. But after 3 weeks of faithful practice their religion, the police force always crowded weekly to "stir crazy", which was the peak gasoline soaked, ready to sacrifice believers Pham Huu Tam said. Lay Bui Van Trung expressed concern:

Bui Van Trung believers:  They picture much pressure phases. Here I only told later stage only. And 3-4 the period before, the police to make a record, as much data. But here we do not sign and they asked that we not go to work. It has many things very tough, even threw stones and many other actions, oppression caused great suffering brethren, and is not safe to recite the Buddha. But next time it could be black society into action. Now government action, then it can get to the black society.

Like many times before, we tried to contact to find out the reaction of authorities, local police, but only be met with silence.

If they do so, we will accept the sacrifice. Not afraid of anything. Accept the sacrifice. Because the Hoa Hao Buddhists do not have to sin, not a mistake of law that oppressed so, then the decision will be, my own self here, accept the sacrifice - people will pour gasoline on to die martyrdom.
Nguyen Van Manh believers


But according to believers, persecution continued action of the authorities ominous still did not flinch loyalty of their legal faith. The believers for saying they are willing to sacrifice for their religion, as believer Nguyen Van Manh spoke with the following comments:


Nguyen Van Manh believers:  In general, the government made a very strong side. If they do so, we will accept the sacrifice. Not afraid of anything. Accept the sacrifice. Because the Hoa Hao Buddhists do not have to sin, not a mistake of law that oppressed so, then the decision will be, my own self here, accept the sacrifice - people will pour gasoline on to die martyrdom.

Facing the continuing legal distress such believers Bui Van Trung - Hoa Hao Buddhists and many others - calls for public support for them to freely practice their religion:

Bui Van Trung believers:  The situation much strain. We recently crossed over from the last case largely on the gift of God, but rather that so much stress. Now we would like to tell you all known domestic and international situation in favor of the Hoa Hao religious freedom. Many of his peers wanted to speak not so much my own.

Nguyen Van Teo lay on this occasion also urged the world to intervene with the authorities of Vietnam to help people can secure the faithful practice:

Nguyen Van Teo lay:  Well I hope now is to secure for believers to practice, practice their religion. Do not let something like this disruptive and again, government officials think they have rights and religious persecution, where there are such. I hope that the world speaks to his Prime Minister VN do for her children rather than just suppressing the practice opportunity. The police are afraid to go home to every co-directed repression, forced to sign. If not sign them arrested. Should we be afraid of being signed.

In Vietnam, the oppression of the church is not recognized by the government, including Hoa Hao Buddhism, which took place a systematic and serious
Oh. Phil Robertson, HRW

And finally, the faithful prayer of Nguyen Van Manh to your brethren that are soon to enjoy the right to religious freedom under international human rights standards, the spirit of VN Constitution and especially the religious practices under the Doctrine of the Master :

The adherents of Nguyen Van Manh:  Well in general we are extremely earnestly petition you to make international intervention for Hoa Hao persecution - too much repression. Many people have to sacrifice, and must now suffer, take the beating. Hoa Hao followers should expect to be international intervention to be faithful to religious freedom in accordance with international human rights law, in accordance with VN. Constitution, as well as true to the principles and teaching our Master, to hope that the country, VN. society and the world are entitled to the common welfare under the Master's teaching.

Perhaps the situation continues Hoa Hao Buddhists in distress so that late last year, Human Rights Organizations, Human Rights Watch released a statement, which said Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia do not forget to note that "In Vietnam, the oppression of the church is not recognized by the government, including Hoa Hao, which took place a systematic and serious."

And this situation is that representatives of the Hoa Hao Gaya in O Mon District, Can Tho, Hue Tho are monks, who lamented that "... do not know the next time will do! Because we are only practice, just doing charity only. The cries of the brethren here with words of frustration of the people around here were untouched blue sky ... ".



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