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According to VOM sources, just before her release, both Ms. Lien and her father refused to sign an amnesty paper that would have required Lien to serve house arrest for the remaining two months of her sentence. Her father courageously insisted that she either be completely freed or returned to the hospital.
A press release from the office of the General Secretary of the Vietnam Mennonite Church said that when Le Quang Du, Lien's father, was invited to the police station of the Security Police of the District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday to tell him of his daughter's pending release, authorities strongly advised him that Ms. Lien should not go to the home of Mrs. Nguyen Hong Quang after her release, thereby avoiding causing "any difficulties for the local government authorities." The Quang home also serves as the Mennonite church meeting place. Ms. Lien's father resolutely affirmed that his family would continue to worship God and participate in the activities of their church.
The Vietnam Mennonite Church believes the release of Ms. Lien before the end of her sentence came because the considerable attention paid to her case by many foreign governments, human rights organizations, international media and Christian believers, both Mennonites and many others around the world. In their release they state: "Our church would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest gratitude to all who have prayed for and with us and to all donors who have contributed toward the needs of the prisoners and their families."
Upon her release, Lien reportedly exhibited joy at seeing her family and church committee who had come to meet her at her release. Her jaw, which was broken in the beatings she received while in prison, remains very painful because it did not receive proper medical attention.
The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada joins the Vietnamese Mennonite Church in calling for the release of the remaining two prisoners who have been in detention since 2004; the Rev. Nguyen Quang and Evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach.
Praise God for the safe release of Lien. Photos of her release may be viewed online. Pray for her complete physical and mental healing. Pray for the release of the Rev. Nguyen Quang and Evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach.
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