12 February, 2012         

Help AsiaNews | About us | P.I.M.E. |

Home | China | Islam | India | Economy | Freedom of religion | Vatican



Voli Low Cost Roma
Voli Milano




mediazioni e arbitrati, risoluzione alternativa delle controversie e servizi di mediazione e arbitrato

e-mail this to a friend printable version


» 07/29/2009 11:04
VIETNAM
Death threats against believers in Dong Hoi, as the police arrest a Catholic
by J.B. An Dang
The Catholic arrested used his home for religious gatherings. The government of Quang Binh wants to eliminate Catholics from its territory.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - A Catholic from Dong Hoi was arrested yesterday by police and groups of thugs – in the service of law enforcement - shouted death threats against the faithful. The city of Dong Hoi is located about 500 km south of Hanoi and the Local Government (found in Quang Binh) has declared there are "no Catholics" in the area, even if there are at least three thousand faithful.

Fr. Vo Thanh Tam, secretary of the College of Priests of Vinh Diocese (which belongs to Dong Hoi) confirmed that several Catholics were arrested a few days ago and that yesterday “Mr. Nguyen Cong Ly was arrested. His house is frequently used by the faithful for liturgical services”.  In fact there are no churches in the area, the only one being Tam Toa, which is in ruins and which the government wants to use as a "memorial" to the war against the United States. Other sources say that the area is being used to build a tourist village (see AsiaNews 21/07/09 - Beatings and arrests of priests and faithful in the historic church of Tam Toa).

According to witnesses, the police and groups of thugs are roaming the streets and attacking those who visibly wear Catholic religious symbols.

In recent weeks a group of faithful tried to repair the ruins of Tam Toa, but were stopped by police, brutally beaten and arrested. To demand their release impressive demonstrations were held by Catholics in the diocese of Vinh, in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), in Hanoi and other cities.

Immediately after the episode in Tam Toa, hundreds of Catholic families fled Dong Hoi to find refuge in Ha Tinh and Nghe An (also in the diocese of Vinh).

Meanwhile more than 600 state media began a campaign of disinformation against the Catholics of Tam Toa, demanding they be charged and inciting hatred toward Catholics.

 


e-mail this to a friend printable version

See also
07/28/2009 VIETNAM
Priest beaten into a coma by police. Catholics Protest throughout Vietnam
by J.B. An Dang
08/10/2009 VIETNAM
More protest vigils in the diocese of Vinh. Difficult glimmers of dialogue with the government
by Emily Nguyen
07/06/2010 VIETNAM
A Con Dau Catholic dies shortly after being released by police
by J.B. An Dang
01/15/2010 VIETNAM
Authorities deny attack on the parishioners of Dong Chiem
07/27/2009 VIETNAM
Half a million Vietnamese Catholics march through the streets against police violence
by J.B. An Dang
Editor's choices
CHINA-VATICAN
What is the true good of the Church in China
by Card. Joseph Zen Ze-kiunOn the eve of an important meeting in Rome on "Jesus our contemporary," Card. Zen asks all Catholics to help the Church in China (and especially its legitimate bishops) to emerge from ambiguity, to follow Benedict XVI and "rid" themselves of those organisms that are enemies of the faith (see PA, Bureau of Religious Affairs, etc. .), and that control and stifle the faithful. The Chinese Church is on the verge of a schism caused by "bargaining" between the Catholic faith and political power. The subtitle of this article (wanted by the author) is: "In dialogue with the Community of Saint Egidio and Gianni Valente of 30Days".
CHINA - VATICAN
Msgr. Savio Hon: Freedom for arrested bishops and priests, is also good for China
by Bernardo CervelleraEven if the government does not give answers or to the Holy See, or diplomats, or to friends of the Vatican and China, it is important that "no one forgets about them." The Chinese government's official response when asked is always: "We do not know." "We need to pray first," "but we must also appeal to those who are holding them."
CHINA - VATICAN
Appeal: Bishops and priests disappeared or in prison, home for the Chinese New Year
by Bernardo CervelleraDuring the Year of the Dragon, AsiaNews asks President Hu Jintao and ambassador Ding Wei for the release of three bishops and six Chinese priests who have disappeared in police custody or are in forced labour camps.

Dossier

Books
Augusto Colombo. Apostolo dei paria
di Piero Gheddo
pp. 320
Matteo Ricci: missione e ragione. Una biografia intellettuale
di Gianni Criveller
pp. 132
Bioetica religioni missioni
di Buono Giuseppe, Pelosi Patrizia
pp. 432

Matteo Ricci e Giulio Aleni, due vite incrociate
di Giulio Aleni / (a cura di) Gianni Criveller
pp. 176

Missione Bengala
155 anni del Pime in India e Bangladesh EMI 
di Piero Gheddo
pp. 480

La Cina di Mao processa la Chiesa
di Angelo S.Lazzarotto
pp. 528


Il rovescio delle medaglie
di Bernardo Cervellera
pp. 240


Il Vescovo partigiano
EMI 2007 pp. 448
di Piero Gheddo
2003 © All rights reserved - Autogestione contenuti di AsiaNews C.F. e P.Iva: 00889190153 - GLACOM®
Copyright © 2003 AsiaNews C.F. 00889190153 All rights reserved. Content on this site is made available for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, republish, sell or otherwise distribute the content or any modified or altered versions of it without the express written permission of the editor. Photos on AsiaNews.it are largely taken from the internet and thus considered to be in the public domain. Anyone contrary to their publication need only contact the editorial office which will immediately proceed to remove the photos.