Posted on 09/13/2005 12:20:05 PM PDT by SJackson
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /Christian Wire Service/ -- The Washington, DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC - www.persecution.org) has received reports that the Vietnamese government recently burned more than ten homes of tribal Christians in Suoi Rut hamlet, Doi Sau village, Quang Ngai province. The affected families were forced to flee their village on July 21, 2005, and are now searching for a new area to reside in.
The homes of ten Hre tribal Christians were destroyed because they refused to deny their faith. The victims belonged to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (ECVN), which has formal recognition by Vietnamese government. The local Communist authorities of Son Thuong village, Quang Ngai province have publicly stated that "the Christian religion is America's religion, and is not allowed here."
The following is a statement from a pastor of the Hre tribe:
"On Sunday, August 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 (CPC - meaning they are one of the world's worst violators of human rights) by the US State Department last year. Once a country is named a CPC, the State Department is then supposed to issue penalties or benchmarks of improvement within six months.
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 strongly recommends that concerned individuals contact their congressional representatives. To find your elected representatives, you can go to the following web sites: http://www.senate.gov/ http://www.house.gov/
Individuals should also contact the Vietnamese embassy to voice their opinions of that country's treatment of its Christian citizens.
Embassy of Vietnam 1233 20th St. NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-861-0737 Fax: 202-861-0917 info@vietnamembassy.usa.org
ICC 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 or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441. To be removed from this press release list, hit reply and put "remove from PR list" in the subject line.
I am surprised...a little. Vietnam has a large minority of Roman Catholics maybe 15-20%, I really didn't think they went too hard on the religion thing.
And Ford Motor Company proudly flies the Communist Vietnamese flag at corporate headquarters.
My Marine Corps brothers who fought and died in Viet Nam just want to say "Thank you, Ford!"
Semper Fi,
Kelly
PS Thirty years later and the American government has failed to get a full accounting of all the American POW & MIA's from Viet Nam. Thanks, Uncle Sam!
Just so long as they didn't flush any pages of the Holy Bible down the toilet, eh?
These events happen often in UN member nations, and it gets precious little notice in the MSM. NeoLiberal = anti-Christian.
PERSECUTION OF MONTAGNARD CHRISTIANS IN VIETNAM
Christmas crackdown in Vietnam (Communists persecute Christians, again)
3 executions in Vietnam alleged as part of government crackdown (on Christians)
VIETNAM CRACKING DOWN ON CHRISTIAN TRIBES IN MOUNTAINS
VIETNAM UNREST THREATENS TO RAISE OBJECTIONS (persecution of Christians)
Awaiting John Kerry's statement on this...
Religion is a focus of men's loyalty and thus a competitor of the government and not to be tolerated in a Comunist society.
Immediately following the takeover the new government moved against the Buddhists and the Buddhists responded by ceasing to do much of anything. The country was collapsing precipitously because nothing was getting done. So the government relented and labeled B'ism as part of the cultural identity of Viet Nam and thus to be tolerated. By politically disabling B'ists the country deprived itself of most of its human capital.
Repression of Catholics was harsher and did not relent so easily because Catholics are a minority.However,in time, it was discovered that most of the business talent resided in the Catholic community. When the VCs(the popular word for government people in VN) determined that VN could not survive economically as a collectivized communist system the VCs got out of the business of agriculture, then progressively out of business in general(banks excepted). The country went from the edge of starvation to being a major exporter of food in a couple of years and acquired a thriving business culture. The Catholics were leaders in business and their suppression would abort the new economy so the pressure let up and Catholicism was proclaimed to be an "indigenous" religion. However, Catholics still have political disabilities, they may not enter government and Catholic villages are not permitted to be sites for any factories aand are not eligible for anything like water systems. A result is that the talented go into business instead of government.
The Protestant phenomenon is incomprehensible to the VCs. It cannot be defined as "native" and it is spreading very rapidly among the minorities who are already a despised group that has not been amenable to government dictates. They don't stay put and don't re-educate very well. And the minorities have no loyalty to the State or to the Country.
A result of the persecution of the Buddhists and the Catholics has been to end their mutual antipathy which the VCs had counted on to keep both under control. The Buddhists have learned from the Catholics how to do busines from a Judeo-Christian foundation and everybody is out trying to make a buck instead of studying the wisdom of Chairman Ho. This is not what the VCs had in mind at all, and the phenomenon is beginning to extend to the minorities. The Catholics and Buddhists are beginning to sympathize with the minorities and take their part and the minorities are losing their "despised" status which the VCs count on to keep them in line.
A strong supporter of Vietnam, screw the Christians. Let me know if you'd like some links, I had a set during the election, but they're not at my fingertips.
Jews Urge Christians to Stand Up to Persecution--"Learn from our example," they urge
Smith Introduces Vietnam Human Rights Act (2002/2003 - Died in Senate, Kerry put hold on it)
Vietnam's 'Appalling' Persecution [John Kerry]
Freeper Alert: Sen. KERRY / Communist Vietnamese Killing Off Christains in Central Highlands...
Unless your name is John F. Kerry ~ occasional Catholic (every election cycle).
You gotta be kidding!
"You gotta be kidding!"
No I am not!
When Ford opened a plant in Nam, Ford started flying the Vietnamese Communist flag right out front of corporate headquarters in Dearborn, MI.
I wrote Ford and told them my first car was a Ford in 1966 and I purchased a new Lincoln in 1996 but I will never buy another Ford product.
I saw too many dead Marines while I was in Nam to buy another Ford.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
I've always bought Fords, but I'm about to tell them the same thing.
Memo to Fonda....
You lied, bitch.
Semper Fi
bttt
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