Quê Me Quê Me: Action for democracy in Vietnam & Vietnam Committee on Human Rights
PARIS, 8 May 2008 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) has received a Report from Venerable Thich Dong Tho, personal assistant of Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), describing an incident of Police harassment against the UBCV Patriarch at the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh where he is under house arrest.
In his report, written 3rd May, Thich Dong Tho said that the Deputy Head of the Tuy Phuoc district Security Police named Nhan, burst into Nguyen Thieu Pagoda at 4pm on 1st May. “He was obviously drunk. His speech was slurred, he staggered and his face was red”, wrote Thich Dong Tho. Ignoring the notice on the Monastery’s door that visitors can only meet the elderly UBCV Patriarch on appointment, he accosted Thich Huyen Quang, who was sitting reading in the courtyard. Bending rudely over the Patriarch, he snatched the documents out of his hand. Finding that they were IBIB Press Releases on the eviction of UBCV Thich Tri Khai in Lam Dong Province, the Security official angrily summoned Thich Huyen Quang to reveal how he had obtained them. He then took out his mobile phone to film Thich Huyen Quang together with the documents. He continued for some time to loudly threaten and accuse the Patriarch of possessing “illegal” documents and being in contact with the UBCV, an organization that “does not exist” in Vietnam. However, Thich Huyen Quang remained perfectly calm, only addressing the Security agent to ask: “Can you show me any law that prohibits the UBCV ?”
At that point, Thich Dong Tho and monks from Nguyen Thieu Monastery arrived and asked the Security agent to leave. Realizing that Thich Huyen Quang was completely unshaken by his threats and harassment, the Security official left the Monastery.
This incident is extremely disturbing, for it reveals the growing repression against the UBCV as UN Vesak Day approaches. Although Thich Huyen Quang is under house arrest, Security Police generally treat him with deference and respect. Such coarse and threatening behaviour is rare. Over the past weeks however, this kind of harassment has become widespread. Yesterday, 7.5.2008, UBCV monk Thich Nhu Tan in Lam Dong Province was subjected to intensive interrogations by Security Police for the third consecutive day. They tried to force him to sign a declaration renouncing the UBCV and promising not to demand religious freedom, democracy or human rights. As he refused, they have summoned him for further interrogations today. Exhausted by the non-stop interrogation, Thich Nhu Tan told IBIB Director Vo Van Ai that the Police’s objective was to frighten and demoralize him, to make him cease supporting the UBCV.
“As Vietnam seeks to become an active member of the international community, it fears the “bad publicity” caused by overt repression. It is therefore using stealth tactics such as threats, harassment, interrogations and house arrest to terrorize and detain religious followers” said Vo Van Ai. “This is unworthy of a government which is about to host the UN Day of the Vesak and claims to celebrate Buddha’s message of Compassion and Peace”.
l Moreover, IBIB is also gravely concerned about the situation of UBCV monk Thich Tri Khai of Giac Hai Pagoda in Don Duong District, Lam Dong. Thich Nhu Tan reports that the authorities have now seized Giac Hai Pagoda and placed it under State control. Yesterday, Thich Tri Khai set off to Saigon for medical treatment, but he has not been seen since. His cell phone has been cut, and his followers have no news of his current whereabouts. We fear he may be under arrest.
