Press Release Archives - Page 44 of 54

Calling for a tri-partite political system : Democracy Courage Tribute recipients Thich Quang Do and Hoang Minh Chinh exchange views on pluralism and democracy in Vietnam

September 2, 2006 IBIB 0

The Very Venerable Thich Quang Do, Deputy leader of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) sent the International Buddhist Information Bureau today an exchange of letters between himself and Hanoi dissident Hoang Minh Chinh, VCP veteran and former Dean of the Institute of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy in Hanoi. Although …

Vietnam Committee welcomes the announced release of prisoners, but condemns “piecemeal amnesty” of religious and political dissidents in Vietnam

August 28, 2006 VCHR 0

PARIS, 28 August 2006 – Vietnam’s Vice-Minister of Public Security has announced that 5,313 prisoners will be released on 2 September, Vietnam’s National Day, including two prisoners convicted of “national security” offences, one of “espionage” and one of “undermining the policy of national unity”. These prisoners reportedly include cyber-dissident Pham …

Vietnam steps up pressure to expel UBCV monk Thich Chon Tam from Tay Hue Pagoda in An Giang

July 20, 2006 IBIB 0

The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) has received an urgent appeal today from Venerable Thich Chon Tam, Superior monk of Tay Hue Pagoda in the southern province of An Giang and member of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). Thich Chon Tam reports that the authorities are stepping …

50 Buddhist clergy demonstrate in Hanoi to protest death, torture and arbitrary detention of Buddhist monks and lay-followers in Bac Giang

July 10, 2006 IBIB 0

Venerable Thich Duc Son pleads innocence at the appeal trial PARIS, 10 July 2006 (IBIB) – More than 50 monks and nuns of the State-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Church (VBC) staged a demonstration outside the People’s Supreme Organ of Supervision and Control (Supreme Procuracy) in Hanoi on 6 July calling for …

At the 1st Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (19-30 June) : Vietnam Committee calls on new UN Human Rights Council to address gross human rights violations in Vietnam

June 20, 2006 VCHR 0

GENEVA, 20th June 2006 – As the new United Nations Human Rights Council begins its first session in Geneva this week, Vo Van Ai, President of the Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), wrote to UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, the …

Buddhist nun Thich Nu Thong Man is expelled from Dich Quang Pagoda for supporting the outlawed UBCV – Monk Thich Chon Tam is offered bribe to become an informer for the Communist Party

June 1, 2006 IBIB 0

The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) has received urgent information that Security Police have expelled Buddhist nun Thich Nu Thong Man and all her novices from Dich Quang Pagoda in Ninh Hoa district in the central province of Khanh Hoa. Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, head of the local village authorities, …

UBCV Buddhists are banned from celebrating Vesak in Vietnam

May 17, 2006 IBIB, News, Press Release 0

PARIS, 17 May 2006 (IBIB) – Thanks to concerted international pressure for improvements in religious freedom in Vietnam, including as Resolutions in the European Parliament and US Congress, the US State Department’s designation of Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” and repeated interventions by the United Nations, and following …

As Buddhists in Vietnam celebrate the 2550th Vesak Anniversary : Vietnam harasses members of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam

May 12, 2006 IBIB, News, Press Release 0

PARIS, 12 May 2006 (IBIB) – As State-sponsored Buddhist organisations celebrate the 2550th Anniversary of the Vesak (Birth of Buddha) in Vietnam today (15th day of the 4th Lunar month, i.e. 12th May 2006), the authorities are tightening controls on the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Security Police have …

IBIB rejects the statement by Religious Board Chair Ngo Yen Thi on the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam

April 25, 2006 IBIB 0

PARIS, April 25, 2006 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) strongly denounces the statement made by Ngo Yen Thi, Chairman of Vietnam’s Religious Board at a Press Conference in Hanoi on Monday 24th April. Asked by a reporter whether Vietnam was prepared to re-establish the legal status of …

Vietnam Committee urges the EU Commissioner to press for release of Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do during visit to Vietnam

April 21, 2006 VCHR 0

Vo Van Ai, President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, wrote to European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner this week asking her to place issues of human rights and democratization high on her agenda during her official visit to Vietnam which begins on Friday, in which she will …