Hanoi (AsiaNews) – One priest is banned from carrying out his pastoral duties because “there is no need for religion”; another is told by his parishioners that his life is in danger; a third one is held for no apparent reason at the airport, interrogated and his computer is seized. All three represent dangerous examples of violations of religious freedom, a principle recognised in law in Vietnam but increasingly challenged.
The first case is that of a Dominican priest, Fr Peter Nguyen Van Phuong, who has been working in Dak Lak province, in the Central Highlands.
The People's Committee of Lak County rejected a request by his parishioners that he be allowed to continue his pastoral work in the area on the grounds that “No religious establishment has been present in those areas; therefore there is no need for religion. The faithful in those four villages can practice their religion at home.”
The reality is that until 1975 when Vietnam was unified under Communist rule, three chapels were in operation in that area, in Quang Trach, Quang Tru, and Lac Thien. The last one is now being used as Lak County’s Attorney’s Office. The other two were damaged during the war but local authorities prevented them from being rebuilt.
In the province Fr Peter Nguyen’s case is not unique. For years Fr Nguyen Trung Thoai from the diocese of Hun Hoa has not been allowed to celebrate Mass, not even for Christmas or Eastern in Son La province.
Another case involves Fr Peter Tran Dinh Lai, in Nghe An province, in the diocese of Vinh.
The churchman is well liked by his 2,500 parishioners for his role in defending Hanoi Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet from a campaign to denigrate him and for his action to safeguard the parish properties from seizure.
Members of his congregation are now warning him that his life could be in danger as a result of a possible conspiracy against him.
The priest has become a target because of his refusal to cooperate with the authorities in stopping his parishioners’ protests over seized Church properties.
After failing to stop the protest police targeted women and students, interrogating the latter even in school.
Fr Peter Tran is among those who have called for an investigation into alleged police brutality. Many high school students have been so traumatised by their experience with police that they are suffering from mental anguish and in Nghi Thach are refusing to go back to school.
The last case involves Redemptorist Fr Joseph Le Quang Uy. A well know pro-life activist, he also opposes a government plan to develop dangerous bauxite mining in the Central Highlands.
On 6 June he was held for no apparent reason at Tan Son Nhat Airport. He was eventually released after several hours, but was told to return for “working sessions”. His laptop computer was also seized.
