News

In a Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, European Parliament calls for multi-party reforms in Vietnam, condemns recent repression against the UBCV and calls for release of Thich Huyen Quang & Thich Quang Do

Following a debate in the Plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, the 730-member EP today voted a Resolution on “The Human Rights Situation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam” strongly condemning the lack of political reforms in the three countries and the ongoing violations of freedom of expression and …

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Vietnam Committee condemns Vietnam’s harassment of dissident Communist Party veteran Hoang Minh Chinh

The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights strongly condemns the current harassment and unlawful treatment of prominent dissident Hoang Minh Chinh by Security Police in Saigon. Former Dean of the Hanoi Institute of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy and a vocal advocate of democratic reform, Hoang Minh Chinh, 83, has been subjected to intimidation …

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Security Police assault Thich Quang Do in clash to prevent UBCV monks holding Buddhist celebration in Saigon – State media launches vilification campaign against Thich Quang Do and UBCV provincial committees

PARIS, 20 November 2005 (IBIB) – At 8.00 am (Vietnam time) on Saturday 19th November 2005, Security Police clashed with Buddhists at the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and physically assaulted Venerable Thich Quang Do, Deputy leader of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). Thich Quang Do was leaving …

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AFP : Vietnam upset at US decision to keep it on religion blacklist

  Agence France Presse   HANOI, Nov 9 (AFP) – Communist Vietnam protested Wednesday at a US State Department decision to keep it on a blacklist of countries deemed to be violators of religious freedom. Washington had some good words for Vietnam in the annual State Department report on religious …

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Vo Van Ai welcomes U.S. decision to maintain Vietnam on black-list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations

Mr Vo Van Ai, Director of the International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) and International Spokesman of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) welcomed the announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to maintain Vietnam on a list of eight “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs) for its grave …

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NGO Coalition Urges Creation of Credible UN Human Rights Council

The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and 41 personalities and NGOs send the following letter to the President of the UN General Assembly to urge that the UN Human Rights Council will significantly enhance the UN’s existing capacity to protect and promote human rights : November 1, 2005 H.E. Mr. Jan …

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Vo Van Ai calls on the U.S. to retain Vietnam on the list of religious freedom violators until Vietnam releases prisoners of conscience and legalizes the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam

WASHINGTON, 28th October 2005 (IBIB) – Testifying on behalf of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) at a Congressional hearing on religious freedom in Vietnam on Wednesday October 26, Mr. Vo Van Ai, UBCV International Spokesman and Director of the International Buddhist Information Bureau, gave evidence of “continuing abuses …

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AFP : US commission wants Vietnam to remain in religious rights blacklist

  Agence France Presse   WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (AFP) – A US Congress-mandated commission has asked the State Department to retain Vietnam in a blacklist of religious rights violators. “Vietnam should be maintained as a “country of particular concern” in the department’s annual religious freedom report,” the US Commission on …

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AFP : Diplomats meet Buddhist dissident in Vietnam

  Agence France Presse   HANOI, Oct 5 (AFP) – One of Vietnam’s most prominent religious dissidents Thich Quang Do urged the European Union to help improve human rights in the country, an EU diplomat said Wednesday. The deputy leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church met British Ambassador to …

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AsiaNews : Western diplomats meet Buddhist dissident

The British ambassador and an EU representative have managed to meet Thich Quang Do, the number two of Vietnam’s Unified Buddhist Church. Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Freedom in Vietnam “is like the picture of a sweet: it looks delicious on paper, but it cannot be eaten”, said Thich Quang Do. Second …

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