Hanoi seeks to impose a political funeral for Hoang Minh Chinh and prevent UBCV monks and pro-democracy activists from attending the event

PARIS, 13th February 2008 (Vietnam Committee on Human Rights) – According to reports from the family of Hoang Minh Chinh, who died last Thursday, Hanoi’s Institute of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy is seeking to take over the organisation of the late dissident’s funeral. The Institute, of which Hoang Minh Chinh was formerly a Dean, tried hard to “persuade” his family to let them hold the funeral under their auspices at the Ministry of Defence’s funeral parlour in Tran Thanh Tong Street, and compose and pronounce his funeral oration. However, Hoang Minh Chinh’s family has refused. They said they will respect their father’s last wishes and hold the funeral within the family, celebrated according to Buddhist rites. They plan to hold it in Hanoi on 16 February 2008.

At the same time, the Vietnamese authorities and Security Police are taking strict measures to prevent pro-democracy activists from travelling to Hanoi to pay their last respects to Hoang Minh Chinh. Buddhist monk Thich Khong Tanh of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, who was sent by UBCV Deputy leader Thich Quang Do to perform the funeral ceremony on the request of Hoang Minh Chinh’s family, was intercepted by Security Police as he attempted to leave Lien Tri Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). He managed to escape Police controls and travel to Hue, where Police intercepted him again and seized his identity card. Thich Khong Tanh told Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam today that he is determined to attend the funeral and recite Buddhist prayers following Hoang Minh Chinh’s last wishes. Hoang Minh Chinh became a Buddhist before his death, and asked Thich Quang Do to be his master.

Over the past few days, many dissidents have been intercepted or threatened by Security Police. In Saigon, Police stopped dissident Tran Khue as he prepared to board a plane to Hanoi on Monday to help with the funeral preparations. He was detained for questioning and subsequently allowed to go home, but is forbidden to travel. Other pro-democracy activists in Saigon, Hue, Haiphong have also been threatened with reprisals or prevented from travelling.

“Vietnam deprived Hoang Minh Chinh of his freedom and rights during his lifetime. They continue to do so even after his death” said Mr. Vo Van Ai, President of Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam, deploring the hypocrisy of the Vietnamese authorities. “After subjecting him to decades of detention, harassment and humiliation, Hanoi now seeks to make political capital out of his death by holding a funeral with great pomp and ceremony”.

Mr. Ai also deplored that pro-democracy activists are being prevented from attending the funeral of this key figure of the Hanoi dissident community. “Vietnam should respect their right to mourn Hoang Minh Chinh”, he said, “and respect Hoang Minh Chinh’s last wishes to be buried by his family according to Buddhist rites” he said.