Prominent Vietnam Pastor freed from Communist Jail

Upon learning of Communist persecution and jailing of prominent Vietnam Mennonite Pastor NGUYEN CONG CHINH of Pleiku, Vietnam...

California State Assemblyman VAN TRAN sent a letter to the President of Vietnam asking for Pastor NGUYEN's immediate release from jail. The Assemblyman also sent a letter to our U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam asking for his intervention in this case. And that of the many thousands of TAM TOA Catholics being persecuted in Communist Vietnam as well.

A response letter from U.S. Ambassador MICHAEL MICHALAK in Hanoi, Vietnam was received by California State Assemblyman VAN TRAN on August 25, 2009 informing him that Vietnam Pastor NGUYEN CONG CHINH was released from jail by Communist Vietnam police on August 8, 2009. As have 6 of 7 jailed TAM TOA Catholics was well. All who were jailed simply for trying to exercise their God-given religious freedoms.

Ambassador MICHAEL MICHALAK also stated that he is now in frequent contact with Pastor NGUYEN and his family who live in Pleiku, Vietnam ..Central Highlands.

Blessings to all who participated in this crusade, through prayers and letters, on behalf of those enslaved in a still Communist Vietnam.

A Letter from U.S. Ambassador MICHAEL MICHALAK to California State Assemblyman VAN TRAN dated August 21, 2009 informs us that Mennonite Pastor NGUYEN CONG CHINH of Pleiku, Vietnam was freed from prison by Communist Vietnam Police on August 8, 2009.

August 21, 2009

From:

U.S. States Ambassador to Vietnam MICHAEL MICHALAK
Embassy of the United States of America
Hanoi, Vietnam

To:

Assemblyman VAN TRAN
68th District, California
1503 South Coast Drive, Suite 205
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Dear Assemblyman TRAN:

It was a pleasure to meet with you during my June visit to Southern California and again in Seattle, Washington. Thank you for your letter dated July 29, 2009, requesting that I intervene in the case of Pastor NGUYEN CONG CHINH. Pastor CHINH was released by the police on August 8. My Staff in Hanoi and in Ho Chi Minh City remain in regular contact with him, his family and other clergy affiliated with the Vietnam People’s Chrisitan Evangelical Fellowship Church in Pleiku.

Regarding the violence against Catholic parishioners and two Catholic priests at the TAM TOA Church ruins in Quang Binh Province, I too was disturbed by these incidents and have discussed the situation there with senior government
officials. My Staff remains in regular contact with the Vinh Diocese, and we have repeatedly expressed our serious concerns at the highest levels of the Ministry of Public Security, the Committee for Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Six of the seven Catholic parishioners who were arrested after the original prayer vigil at the church ruins on July 20 have subsequently been released; one remains in detention, and we continure to closely follow events in Quang Binh.

I agree that the Government of Vietnam needs to keep it’s pledge to continue to improve conditions for religious organizations and indiviudual people of faith. This is a priority for me and my staff at the Embassy in Hanoi and at our Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. I and my staff reularly raise individual cases of harassment of religious believers with the government, as well as the need to continue to enact systemic reform. Religious freedom is a basic human right, and we will continue to push for it to be more fully respected in Vietnam.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL MICHALAK

NEVER FORGET

The fight for FREEDOM is always worth it:

US remains concerned over free speech in Vietnam

http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82324

NEVER FORGET

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