Joseph Dang

Attack took place in Kontum, where a group of volunteers were blocked by police and forced to turn back. One of the assaulted, tortured by the head of the local Communist Party, ended up in hospital with multiple internal injuries.

Three defendants are sentenced to 13 years in prison. The others get between three and eight. An appeal is made to the United Nations against the arbitrary conviction. US scholar says the situation for non-violent social and political activists is getting worse.

The trial was supposed to be open to the public but the courtroom was instead filled with police agents. The defendants, plus three Protestants, are accused of subversion for reporting misdeeds by party officials. Justice and Peace Committee calls the trial a sham. Vinh bishop and dozens of intellectuals call on the authorities to respect human rights. For them, the government is betraying the Vietnamese constitution and the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Defendants' lawyers complain that their clients have been subjected to torture, including sleep deprivation, and false statements.

They are accused of subversion for going online to expose corruption in the party and the government. Their trial is being held at a time of low media coverage to avoid criticism from the international community. Starting in September, PM Nguyen Tan Dung launched a campaign against activists and bloggers, which he reiterated on 17 December. Catholic Maria Ta Phong Tan is among those at risk. In 2012, 40 activists and bloggers have been convicted.

At least 5 thousand people demonstrated in the diocese of Vinh, waving Vatican flags. The faithful have demonstrated for the restitution of church property and the arrests of young activists. Hanoi Priest : more incidents of repression against the Vietnamese Church.

They are part of about three thousand Catholics living in Osaka and the capital. Large crowd at the ceremony in the church of St. Ignatius. The consequences of the earthquake have prevented the arrival of Cardinal Pham Minh Man

Nguyen Minh Triet is known for his pro-abortion positions and responsible for violations of religious freedom. In the past, no civil authority has ever spoken in religious ceremonies. "Why can the atheist Triet give a 'sermon' in a mass?". Manipulated the words of the pope to demand the submission of the bishops to the regime.

Faithful beaten and arrested, religious sisters threatened. These the most recent episodes in a campaign that has seen a bishop prevented from celebrating Christmas mass, raids against a church and a revival of the "patriotic" Catholic.

Previously the government had granted permission. The authorities are alarmed by the great wave of conversions in the diocese: 50 thousand in the last two years. The police has also sought to withdraw the license of the drivers of the “vagabond bishop", who travel hundreds of kilometers for his pastoral work.

For weeks, protesters have camped outside the local government building, demanding the return of illegally seized parish land. They want local authorities to uphold a prime ministerial decree that orders to return of properties seized after 1991, which is their case. The incident illustrates the problem of corruption that the authorities are trying to sweep under the carpet.

Authorities actions against institutions and people continue. Bishop of Kontum stopped and threatened. Instructions to the "patriotic Catholics" for a campaign of "good citizenship" to be organized ahead of Christmas. For the first time the bishops do not meet the premier.

In a letter, the superior of the religious sisters asks authorities to apologise for allegations that they had educated "a generation" to be counter-revolutionary and to ask for compensation for the destruction of their convent. After attempting to build a luxury hotel, the local People's Committee said that there will make a square with a garden.