The approach of the Communist Party
Congress, scheduled for early next year, is attracting a wave of
repression against dissidents, lawyers, intellectuals and activists in
general in Vietnam, which is involving also the Redemptorists.
Local
authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, in fact, in recent days made two raids
on the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (pictured), ordering the
religious men who run it to remove articles, described as
"anti-government", from their newsletter.
According to a a letter dated December 13 by Father Joseph Dinh Huu
Thoai, head of the Secretariat of the Province of the Redemptorists in
Vietnam, on two consecutive days, 8th and 9th of this month, local
officials arrived at the church, the second , in size of the city.
The
next day, the authorities of the third district of the city called the
provincial superior, Father Vincent Pham Trung Thanh, for a "working
session".
On that occasion, reports the priest, representatives of state
administration for religious affairs and local officials accused the
Redemptorists of being "instigators of disorder."
On the same occasion,
the provincial superior was told the charge referred to "the
Redemptorist Homilies and articles published in the Bulletin concerning
disputes for the properties of the former nunciature and Thai Ha, acts of persecution in Tam Toa, Con Dau, and Dong Chiem
as well as the government project for bauxite mines in the Central
Highlands. "
From the government point of view, these are "non-religious
matters", of which priests are not allowed to speak.
Any violation may
be charged as anti-government behaviour.
Father Pham has rejected all accusations, claiming that his religious
order has always worked for the good of the whole people, praying and
living in the service of the Gospel and calling for reconciliation
between the social partners and the respect for justice and truth.
In response to the priest’s words, the president of the district
People's Committee announced "new raids" on the church in the coming
days.
SIC: AN/INT'L