Saturday, September 10, 2005

VIETNAMESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS BURN HOMES BELONGING TO CHRISTIANS

By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ANS) -- The Vietnamese government recently burned more than ten homes of tribal Christians.

The affected families were forced to flee their village, and are now looking for a new area in which to live.

That according to a news release from the Washington, D.C. based human rights group, International Christian Concern, or ICC (www.persecution.org).

According to ICC, the homes of the Hre tribal Christians (from Suoi Rut hamlet, Doi Sau village, Quang Ngai province), were destroyed because they refused to deny their faith. The victims belonged to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (ECVN), which ICC reported is recognized by the Vietnamese government.

The local Communist authorities of Son Thuong village, Quang Ngai province have publicly stated, ICC reported, that “the Christian religion is America’s religion, and is not allowed here.”

The following statement from a pastor of the Hre tribe was provided in the news release from ICC.

“On Sun. Aug. 21, 2005 at 8:00 A.M., Mr. Dinh van Hoanh, police chief of Son Thuong village and his assistant, Mr. Thai Mai Quan, came to Mr. Dinh van Hoang's house and said: 'We do not allow any Christians to live here. If you want to stay you must sign this paper to declare that you and your family are renouncing your faith.’

“Mr. Hoang refused to do so. The police chief then called numerous officials, including Mr. Dinh van Xoa, hamlet chief, and Mr. Dinh van Hoach, his assistant, to come and destroy Hoang's house.

“They then told Mr. Hoang that if he recanted his faith, they would rebuild his house. Mr. Hoang again refused, and the authorities then destroyed his animal pens.”

Vietnam was named a Country of Particular Concern (or a CPC - meaning it is one of the world's worst violators of human rights) by the U.S. State Department last year. Once a country is named a CPC, ICC reported, the State Department is then supposed to issue penalties or benchmarks of improvement within six months.

ICC commented, “The State Department failed to issue benchmarks or penalties against the Vietnamese government this past spring due to political pressures and assurances from the Vietnamese government that this type of behavior would cease. Unfortunately, the persecution of tribal Christians has brazenly continued with no discernable change in tenor or volume.”

ICC recommends that concerned individuals contact their congressional representatives.

Individuals should also contact the Vietnamese embassy, ICC suggested, to voice their opinions of that country’s treatment of its Christian citizens.
 
The Embassy of Vietnam is located at 1233 20th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Tel. 202-861-0737. The e-mail address is info@vietnamembassy.usa.org

IICC is a Washington, DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US regarding the problem of persecution and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and with the State Department.

For additional information go to www.persecution.org  or call in the United States, 800-422-5441.
 
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05090044.htm