Free Vietnam Alliance
Press Release
October 10, 2003
On the morning of October 9, 2003, a delegation of Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam leaders were detained near the city of Nha Trang. The delegation consisted of eleven individuals, including the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang, Thich Quang Do, Thich Vien Dinh, Thich Tue Sy, Thich Thanh Huyen, Thich Nguyen Ly, Thich Minh Hanh, Thich Nguyen Vuong, and Thich Dong Tho.
This incident follows attempts by the government to impede Buddhists from gathering at Nguyen Thieu pagoda in Binh Dinh for a meeting convened by the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang. Despite the difficulties, the meeting took place over the last few days with key leaders of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam attending. After the meeting, on the morning of October 8th, venerables Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do and other Buddhist clergy, set out from Nguyen Thieu pagoda for Saigon. When their vehicle had gotten 200 meters from the pagoda, they were confronted by security agents who would not let them go further. Many clergy and laity in the area came on the scene to protect the delegation. On the evening of October 8th, security officials yielded and allowed the delegation to continue. After spending the night at Linh Son pagoda in Van Gia, north of Ninh Hoa province, the delegation continued on the morning of October 9th to Saigon. When they reached Luong Son, they were stopped again by police. All eleven members of the delegation were handcuffed and taken away to a secret location. Using a customary pretext for detainment, authorities accused the Buddhist leaders of possessing 'documents containing state secrets.'
According to the latest reports today, Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang was returned to Nguyen Thieu pagoda where he is under detention. Security agents have sealed off the pagoda and disconnected phone service. Venerable Thich Quang Do was taken to Thanh Minh monastery where he is also under detention. Venerable Thich Vien Dinh was brought to Giac Hoa temple in Saigon and then subsequently to an interrogation and detention facility.
The Hanoi government has moved to isolate the UBCV leadership and turn pagodas into jail cells. The government has also aimed to sabotage the emergency UBCV Conference being held in Australia from October 10-12, 2003. This is an important meeting for Vietnamese Buddhists organized at the request of the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang.
The above government actions constitute an organized attack on Vietnam's Buddhists. Everything that Hanoi prime minister Phan Van Khai and other officials have said and promised are a show to deceive world opinion. Less than two weeks ago, Hanoi tried to block the Vatican's appointment of Archbishop Pham Minh Man to the position of cardinal and reversed itself only after heavy protest from inside and outside Vietnam. Now, the government is trying to persecute and marginalize the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang, patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam.
In the face of these graves threats to all Vietnamese, the Free Vietnam Alliance urgently calls on Vietnamese communities and organizations to alert the international community and lobby for pressure on the Hanoi communist government to return unconditional freedom for the leaders of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam and stop the serious violations of human rights in Vietnam.