Hanoi (AsiaNews /
Agencies) - Family and friends of the
Catholics sentenced to prison for subversion in January have launched a
public awareness campaign, which includes a petition signed by Christian and
Buddhist religious leaders. The
goal, say organizers, is to spread awareness of the case among the civilian
population and win, first of all, the interest and the commitment of the
Vietnamese people. The
initiative was publicized by the younger brother of one of the people in
prison; approached by the online radio Radio
Free Asia (RFA), he said that the indictment is unjust, based on trumped-up
charges which open the prison doors to "innocent"
people.
The
public awareness movement kicked off on Jan. 27, with a petition entitled
"Protest against an illegal trial, which was held in Vinh on 8 and 9
January 2013." The
organizers denounced the use of "illegal procedures" for the arrest
and unjust conviction of the group. The
organizer's intention is not only to raise awareness about the case but also
mobilize "as many people as possible" for the sake of prisoners.
Today
there are two groups involved in the campaign: the first works in the north of
Vietnam, while the second in the south of the country. In
promoting the petition, organizers clearly state that the do not belong to any "political
organizations or movements," but to aim to express the "opinions and sentiments"
of their family members. By
mid-February over 10 thousand signatures had been collected, among two Catholic
bishops and a religious leader from the Buddhist Unified Buddhist Church of
Vietnam (Cubv), not recognized by the government and often subject to
persecution and abuse. The
Venerable Thich Khong Tanh wanted to
join the campaign to "defend justice and democracy in the country."