Posted on 08/19/2019 6:36:33 PM PDT by marshmallow
Arrested in 2011, Hòa was an active member of the Diocese of Vinh and worked with a news agency run by Redemptorist fathers. For the regime, he is part of a group of young Catholics and Protestants engaged in activities “aimed at overthrowing the people’s government”. The prisoner of conscience still has five years to serve in prison followed by as many under house arrest.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – Relatives, friends and supporters of 45-year-old Hồ Đức Hòa (picture 1), a Catholic activist for human rights and religious freedom, have renewed their call for his release.
The prisoner of conscience suffers from many health problems but, in the last three months, prison authorities have denied him medical assistance, this according to his sister, Hồ Thi Luy.
Hòa is one of 14 activists from the Vinh area, in the north-central province of Nghệ An, arrested by the authorities between August and December 2011, during a campaign of repression against young Catholic and Protestant activists. All are accused of engaging in activities “aimed at overthrowing the people’s government”.
Their trial took place behind closed doors in the Nghệ An provincial court, on 8-9 January 2013. Anne Nguyễn Đặng Minh Mẫn (picture 2), who was part of the group, was released from prison on 2 August.
At the time of his arrest, Hòa was an active member of the Diocese of Vinh and worked with the Vietnam Redemptorist News, an independent news agency run by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorist Fathers) in Ho Chi Minh City.
He was also involved in getting scholarships to poor students and in initiatives to help the marginalised and disabled.
(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...
Ping
But U.S. policy likes to play with those dictators just because they are not the Chinese dictators.
Yes, geopolitics can make strange bedfellows.
Can a leopard change its stripes?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.