News

RFA : New Opposition to Mine: A dissident Buddhist leader in Vietnam joins opposition to a planned bauxite mine

    BANGKOK, 2 April 2009 (RFA) – A leading dissident Buddhist monk in Vietnam, Thich Quang Do, has joined scientists and a leading war hero in opposing plans to mine bauxite in Vietnam, citing concerns for the environment and indigenous people, his organization has said. Do, the head of …

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UBCV leader Thich Quang Do calls for a month of civil disobedience and at-home demonstrations in May to protest environmental destruction

PARIS, 1st April 2009 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) received an appeal today from Patriarch Thich Quang Do, leader of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, calling on all Vietnamese to stage peaceful protests in their homes throughout the month of May 2009 as a “gesture …

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Reuters : Vietnam rejects criticism by rights groups at U.N.

    GENEVA, 24 March 2009 (Reuters) – Vietnam on Tuesday rejected as “slanderous and distorted” allegations by exiled human rights groups that it stifles peaceful dissent and jails its critics. Vietnam’s ambassador, in a letter sent to the U.N. Human Rights Council, said that when addressing the Geneva forum …

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At the 10th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva: Vo Van Ai denounces Vietnam’s non-compliance with UN Treaties, dangers of Bauxite mining in Central Highlands, and Secret VPC anti-Human rights plan

GENEVA, 23 March 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) – Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Mr. Vo Van Ai, President of Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights denounced “grave violations of human rights” in Vietnam, and the government’s systematic “non-compliance …

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Update on the situation of UBCV leader Thich Quang Do

PARIS, 11 March 2009 (IBIB) – Patriarch Thich Quang Do, leader of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, 80, remains under effective house arrest at the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Saigon. On 26th February 2009, Thich Quang Do received a visit from Ms. Katia Bennett, Political Officer of the …

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As they prepare to board a plane to Saigon: Hanoi prohibits visit by Euro MP Marco Pannella and Italian Senator Marco Perduca to Vietnam

PARIS, 23 December 2008 (VCHR) – Prominent Member of the European Parliament, Marco Pannella, and Italian Senator Marco Perduca, were prevented from boarding a plane from Phnom Penh to Saigon today to visit Vietnam. They were scheduled to visit Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam leader Thich Quang Do today before …

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US Deputy Ambassador visits Buddhist monk Thich Thien Hanh in Hue

PARIS, 16 December 2008 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau received a report today from the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) on a visit by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Hanoi, Ms. Virginia E. Palmer to Very Venerable Thich Thien Hanh, Secretary …

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Security Police assault UBCV monk Thich Nhat Ban and vandalize his pagoda

PARIS, 4 December 2008 (International Buddhist Information Bureau) – Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Ban, 73, Superior monk at the Ba La Mat pagoda and head of the local representative board of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) in the southern province of Dong Nai has been beaten and his …

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Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam holds leadership meeting in Saigon

PARIS, 18 November 2008 (IBIB) – Leading monks from the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) gathered at the Giac Hoa Pagoda in Saigon on 15 November 2008 for a meeting of the UBCV Supreme Bi-cameral Council (Institute of the Sangha and Institute for the Dissemination of the Dharma Vien …

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Wives of detained dissidents launch appeal for their husbands’ release

PARIS, 1st November 2008 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS) – The wives of five pro-democracy activists in Vietnam whose husbands were arrested in September 2008 have written to the Vietnamese leadership calling for their release and “safe return” to their families. In a letter dated 30.10.2008, Mrs Nguyen Thi Nga, …

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