Quê Me Quê Me: Action for democracy in Vietnam & Vietnam Committee on Human Rights
PARIS, 31 May 2008 (IBIB) – The International Budhist Information Bureau is informed that the Supreme Patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) Thich Huyen Quang is seriously ill. He was admitted to the General Hospital in Quy Nhon on 27th May suffering from breathing problems due to a heart condition. The 89 year old Patriarch is reportedly very weak.
Hearing that the Patriarch was in hospital, on 28th May, UBCV Deputy leader Thich Quang Do and a delegation of 8 senior UBCV monks took the train from Saigon to Binh Dinh to visit him. Security Police at the train station filmed the monks’ departure, but made no attempt to intervene. This is the first time that Thich Quang Do has been able to visit the Patriarch without being intercepted by Police. Thich Quang Do is still in Binh Dinh, and has visited Thich Huyen Quang in hospital every day.
Over 30 leading monks from the UBCV’s Provincial Boards have also gathered in Binh Dinh to visit the Patriarch, including Thich Thien Hanh from Hue, Thich Thanh Quang from Quang Nam-Danang, Thich Tam Lien from Binh Dinh, and representatives from other sections in Nha Trang, Quang Tri, Tien Giang and Saigon.
After the International Buddhist Information Bureau reported on the Patriarch’s condition in a statement yesterday, Buddhists in Vietnam and around the world have been holding ceremonies to pray for Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang’s good health.
