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Vietnam

  • Stand with the Christians of the Cu Hat Church in Vietnam!


    Constructing the Cu Hat Church

    The Cu Hat Church before demolition
    In September 2008, a congregation of more than 500 Hmong Christian who had fled persecution in Vietnam's northwest provinces for the Central Highlands began building a chapel where they could worship protected from the rain and sun. When they had earlier notified local authorities of their plans, they were told they would never get permission. It would be useless to even ask. An application to build a chapel would only be considered when their denomination was granted legal recognition and all attempts to do so had been repeatedly ignored by authorities, contrary to Vietnam's new religion legislation.

    Because of their urgent need, they determined to go ahead. Before the walls of the 12-metre by 20-metre chapel were completed, officials ordered the believers to stop building and tear down what had been constructed, claiming that the lumber was cut illegally. The Cu Hat congregation met, prayed, considered and decided that they could not comply. Although virtually all buildings in this area of Vietnam are erected without building permits, local authorities accused the Christians of "illegal construction" and ordered the congregation to "voluntarily" tear it down. On December 2, 2008 the district officials made a formal decision to demolish the church within two weeks if the Christians would not do so themselves.

     
    To watch a video of the demolition, click here.
    At 7:00 a.m. on the morning of December 17, a large contingent of government officials, police and demolition workers destroyed the Cu Hat Church building (click here to read more). Wielding electric cattle prods, police beat back hundreds of distraught Christians who rushed to the site to protect the building. Five people were injured, including a child who suffered a broken arm and a pregnant woman who was prodded in the stomach. After the workers had loaded the lumber onto their trucks, they emptied sacks of the Christians' rice on the ground, put the roof tile into the sacks and sped away. In 90 minutes, the destruction was complete.

    Within a few days the Christians dared to build a temporary shelter of bamboo and tin to have a place to worship and celebrate Christmas. At last report, authorities were threatening to tear it down too.

    You can get involved in protesting this illegal action by the Vietnamese government!

    Download a letter of protest and encourage people to sign it. Take it to your church or office. Once you have a number of signatures, send it to the Vietnamese embassy in Ottawa:

    His Excellency Duc Hung Nguyen, Ambassador
    Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
    470 Wilbrod Street
    Ottawa, ON
    K1N 6M8

    In the United States:

    His Excellency Le Cong Phung, Ambassador
    Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
    1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400
    Washington, DC
    20037

  • Church building destroyed, believers attacked

    Local government officials destroyed a church building and assaulted several believers in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam on December 17, according to a report from Compass Direct. At approximately 7:00 a.m., a large group of officials and demolition workers arrived at the site of the Vietnam Good News Mission and Church and dismantled the building. When hundreds of Christians rushed to the site to try to intervene, police officers repelled them with electric cattle prods. Several Christians were seriously injured, including a child whose arm was broken and a pregnant woman who fainted when jabbed in the stomach. The building, which was built in September, was deemed an "illegal construction" because the believers did not have a building permit. On December 2, the Christians were informed that if they did not tear the building down within two weeks, officials would. However, the Christians' registration attempts over the past year were either denied or ignored and virtually all the buildings in the area were built without permits.

    Pray that these Christians will continue to meet together for worship despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25). Pray for healing for those injured in the attack.

    Find out more about the plight of Vietnamese Christians at theVietnam Country Report.

  • Chapel attacked in Hanoi


    Catholics gather in prayer around the Thai Ha parish
    Photo from    AsiaNews

    A group of communist party activists attacked the St. Gerardo chapel on the property of the Thai Ha parish in Hanoi on the evening of November 15. At approximately 10:00 p.m., hundreds of activists arrived at the monastery and asked for an urgent meeting with some of the believers. They began shouting, throwing stones at the building and trying to provoke the believers. Local Christians were quickly alerted to the attack by fellow believers and within an hour, a large group of Christians were on the scene. The attackers were eventually intimidated by the growing number of believers present and fled before they could cause serious damage to the premises. Local Christians suspect the attack is related to their ongoing battle for restitution of parish land seized by authorities.

    Pray that these Christians will be encouraged to continue meeting together for worship despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25). Pray that the passion of God's people in Vietnam will be a light that draws others to Christ.

    To learn more about how Christians are persecuted in Vietnam,click here.

  • Authorities destroy historic Christian building


    Parishioners have held candlelight
    prayer vigils for months.
    Photo from    AsiaNews

    On September 19, government authorities bulldozed a building in Hanoi, Vietnam after a long-standing land dispute between Christians and officials, according to a September 26 report from Compass Direct. The building, which once served as the Vatican embassy and residence, was seized in the mid-1950s by the government. Late last year, Christians began holding prayer vigils and protests in response to the government's refusal to give back the land. In February, government leaders promised to negotiate a settlement with the believers over the property on the condition that the prayer vigils ceased. The government took no action, however, and Christians resumed the vigils in August. Christian leaders are calling the government's response to the believer's peaceful protests a serious setback to the religious freedom in Vietnam. Authorities are reportedly planning to use the leveled premises for a library and park.

    Pray for the government to change its mind and act justly in this situation. Pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen Christians in Vietnam in their hearts, minds, and bodies as they face opposition to their faith.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Vietnam, go to ourVietnam Country Report.

  • Christian Lawyers Receive Sentences

    Nguyen Van Dai
    Lawyer for the "Mennonite Six"
    After a four-hour trial on May 11, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Chong Nhan, two Christian Lawyers facing accusations relating to their defense of religious freedom (click here for more information), were convicted of "propagandizing against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." According to a May 16 report from Compass Direct, Dai received a sentence of five years in prison and four years of house arrest. Nhan was sentenced to four years in prison and three years of house arrest. Both of them are expected to appeal to the People's Supreme Court, which is the last court of appeal in Vietnam.

    In the weeks leading up to the trial, the state media made several accusations against the lawyers, including allegations that they compiled "evidence of Vietnam's suppression of the Protestant religion" and cooperated with terrorists in their efforts to promote human rights. These and other accusations were posted on the Vietnam News Agency website one day prior to the trial date.

  • Christian Lawyers Face Trial

    Nguyen Van Dai
    Lawyer for the "Mennonite Six"
    Nguyen Van Dai, a 38-year-old member of the main Hanoi congregation of the legally-recognized Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), or ECVN (N), since 2000, was arrested on March 6 for accusations relating to his defense of religious freedom, including disseminating "alleged infractions of religious liberty [to Vietnam's enemies abroad]." Dai is one of Vietnam's few human rights lawyers and is a member of Advocates International, an organization which brings together Christian human rights lawyers from many countries. He defended the "Mennonite Six" in 2004-2005.

    Also arrested in early March was Dai's colleague, Le Thi Cong Nhan, who faces similar accusations. Both are due to be tried on May 11 for defaming the communist state of Vietnam. It is expected that the trial will be nothing more than a charade.

    Authorities have prohibited Dai's wife, Khanh, from visiting him and she has not been provided with any legal papers. By law she should have received a copy of the arrest order at her husband's March 6 arrest citing the reasons for his "temporary detention." Her home phone and cell phone services have been cut. Police have reportedly been trying to incite neighbours against her.

    The Voice of the Martyrs is urging Christians from around the world to pray for and to send letters/cards of encouragement to Mrs Khanh immediately. For more information, a sample letter and the address to which you can write, please go to persecutedchurch.blogspot.com.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Vietnam,click here.

  • Priest Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

    For the past several years, The Voice of the Martyrs has been following the case of Vietnamese priest, Father Nguyen Van Ly. Sentenced to fifteen years in prison in 2001, he was released early in January 2005. A month ago, it was reported that Ly had been indicted for propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under article 88 of the criminal code (click here for more details). On March 30, after a one-day trial, Ly was sentenced to eight years in prison. Four co-defendants were given sentences ranging from eighteen months of suspended jail time to six years in prison.

    Ly has been an outspoken opponent of the oppressive communist government in Vietnam. In a surprise move, the government allowed foreign journalists to observe the trial. 

    For more information on persecution in Vietnam,click here.

  • Catholic Priest Indicted

    Vietnamese police have indicted Father Nguyen Van Ly for propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under article 88 of the criminal code. Ly has already spent ten years in prison because of his efforts to promote religious freedom.

    As many as sixty officers raided Ly's home on February 18, taking hundreds of documents, six laptop computers and numerous cell phone SIM cards. They returned six days later and moved him outside of the city where he is now under virtual house arrest while awaiting the criminal proceedings.

    In 2001, Ly was sentenced to fifteen years in prison but was suddenly released in early 2005 as part of an amnesty (see the details).

    Pray that all charges against Father Nguyen Van Ly will be dropped. Ask God to give Christians in Vietnam a boldness of faith that draws others to Him (Matthew 5:14-16).

    Pray that the persecution of Christians by Vietnamese authorities will decrease and that freedom of religion will be recognized throughout the country.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Vietnam,click here.A new 14-page report on religious freedom in Vietnam was released this week by the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Go to the weblog page to download a copy.

  • Christians Arrested, Church Building Partly Demolished

    Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang
    On January 9, local police broke up a prayer meeting at the headquarters for the Vietnam Mennonite Church in Ho Chi Minh City and arrested seventeen Christians, according to a January 9 report from Compass Direct. Following the raid, police demolished part of the church building, which also serves as the family residence for Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang. 

    At approximately 8:20 a.m., the police stormed the church building and demanded that the prayer meeting be halted.  Although the Christians agreed to end the meeting, police proceeded to arrest seventeen of the Christians and had them detained at the local police station.

    Pastor Quang's mother-in-law and his 12-year-old son, Huy, were among those who were arrested. Also arrested were a child named Truc (12) and a pregnant woman named Thuong. While detained, some of the women were reportedly grabbed by their hair and some of the Christians were hit and slapped. Huy and Truc were taken into a separate room where they were screamed at and threatened. All of the Christians were released at 5:00 p.m. that evening.

    Pastor Quang, a leader in Vietnam's Mennonite Church and an advocate for religious liberty, has been beaten, arrested and imprisoned for his Christian work. More information on Pastor Quang and his detention can be found on VOMC's website. To find a summary of Pastor Quang's story, click here. To view all related VOMC news stories click here. Observers are concerned that this incident may signal a renewed persecution of Vietnam's Church now that there is less international attention on Vietnam due to the U.S.'s removal of the country from its list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom in November.

    Thank God for the bold faith of Pastor Quang and his congregation. Pray that they will remain faithful to the task the Lord has given them, knowing that they will receive the crown of life (1 Peter 5:1-4). Pray that Christians in Vietnam will be encouraged to meet together for worship and prayer, in spite of opposition from authorities.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Vietnam,click here.

  • Harassment of Church Culminates in Police Raid

    The Full Gospel Church in Thieu Vien in the Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa has been active since 1999 without any apparent opposition. Starting in April 2006, however, Public Security Police have been consistently harassing the church members. The harassment turned to violence this month, according to Jubilee Campaign.

    On June 4, the congregation was meeting for prayer in the home of Ms. Minh when security police broke in. Some of the members were assaulted as they were taken to the police station where they were warned to stop meeting at Ms. Minh's home.  On June 18, security police again raided Ms. Minh's home, detaining Nguyen Trung Ton, Hac Ngoc Si, Ms. Nhan, and Mrs. Lan. Ton and Si were seriously beaten while under interrogation. All were forced to sign a statement that they would not meet at the home again for Bible study.

    Pray that Lord will protect this congregation and enable them to meeting. Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4). Ask God to strengthen and heal those who have been assaulted.

    For more information Vietnam and the persecution facing Christians there,click here.

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