Free Vietnam Alliance
http://www.fva.org
Press Release
June 12, 2004
Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, vice president of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, has been detained by security police for allegedly “instigating others to obstruct persons carrying out official duties.” The Free Vietnam Alliance has learned that police came to Pastor Quang’s home in Saigon on June 8th to carry out a search. When he objected, police read him an order authorizing “temporary detention” for three months, confiscated documents and computer equipment, and took him away.
Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang has advocated publicly for religious freedom. Trained in law, he has provided legal assistance to victims of religious persecution. He filed petitions on behalf of the relatives of Father Nguyen Van Ly who were detained because of their association with the imprisoned Catholic priest. Recently, he aided minority Christians in the Central Highlands who were brutally suppressed by the Government. In addition to Pastor Quang, four other leaders of the Mennonite Church are currently under detention (Pham Ngoc Thanh, Nguyen Van Phuong, Nguyen Hieu Nghia, Nguyen Thanh Nhan).
According to an appeal issued by the Administrative Committee of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, authorities have launched a smear campaign against Pastor Quang. An article in the June 12, 2004 issue of the Cong An (“Public Security”) Newspaper called Pastor Quang “greedy, deceitful, lying and violent” and accused him of possessing pornographic videos. The Administrative Committee’s appeal was signed by three people including the deputy secretary general of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, Truong Tri Hien. Authorities have reportedly issued an arrest order for Mr. Hien.
Government repression of independent religious worship has escalated in Vietnam. The Free Vietnam Alliance urges the international community to call on the Vietnamese government to release immediately and unconditionally Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang and other individuals detained solely for peaceful religious worship. The government must respect the fundamental right of the Mennonite Church and other independent religious groups to worship freely as guaranteed by international covenants on human rights to which Hanoi is a signatory.
A translation of the “Appeal for Prayer” by the Administrative Committee of the Vietnam Mennonite Church is attached.