While not yet in receipt of the Hanoi authorised agency’s recognition for its legal status, “Hanoi Christian Fellowship” (HCF) has organised activities against the law and made up stories about the administration’s oppression of Protestants.
On November 30, via Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, HCF, which was formed through the merger of nine Protestant sects, signed a contract with the National Convention Centre for organising “a year-end gathering for those who used to live and work in Russia ”.
However, the programme that Mrs Tuyet sent to the National Convention Centre later on Dec. 15 became: “a year-end gathering to enjoy Christmas and welcome the New Year” – an agenda not in agreement with what was written down in the contract signed with the National Convention Centre.
Declining to accept these changes, the National Convention Centre on Dec. 16 announced its cancellation of the contract and at the same time suggested HCF hold the programme at the Culture and Sports Centre in Tu Liem district.
When the demand was not satisfied, one of the three HCF leaders, Pastor Pham Tuan Nhuong, who was in charge of HCF’s year-end gathering, on Dec. 19 incited a crowd of Protestant followers standing outside the National Convention Centre to cause public disorder.
As the disorder caused traffic jams throughout the site, responsible agencies gave explanations and persuaded HCF leaders to abide by the laws and requested the crowd to disperse.
Refusing to obey the laws, Nhuong continued to incite Protestant followers, forcing the responsible agencies to dismiss the crowd and put nine extreme persons, including two leaders in the case, in administrative temporary detention for 24 hours.
After the incident, HCF leaders posted an Internet clip featuring the responsible agencies’ operation to dismiss the crowd, which was used and made into a story on “ Hanoi police oppression over Protestants” by such websites as dongchuacuuthe, nuvuongcongly, and vietcatholic.
The nature of HCF’s case was clear.
The Vietnamese Party and State have always respected citizens’ rights to religious and relief freedom along with creating conditions for all religions to operate in the country.
Illegal religious activities intentionally taken by religious organisations without legal status like the HCF are violations of law and need to be handled in line with the law./.
On November 30, via Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, HCF, which was formed through the merger of nine Protestant sects, signed a contract with the National Convention Centre for organising “a year-end gathering for those who used to live and work in Russia ”.
However, the programme that Mrs Tuyet sent to the National Convention Centre later on Dec. 15 became: “a year-end gathering to enjoy Christmas and welcome the New Year” – an agenda not in agreement with what was written down in the contract signed with the National Convention Centre.
Declining to accept these changes, the National Convention Centre on Dec. 16 announced its cancellation of the contract and at the same time suggested HCF hold the programme at the Culture and Sports Centre in Tu Liem district.
When the demand was not satisfied, one of the three HCF leaders, Pastor Pham Tuan Nhuong, who was in charge of HCF’s year-end gathering, on Dec. 19 incited a crowd of Protestant followers standing outside the National Convention Centre to cause public disorder.
As the disorder caused traffic jams throughout the site, responsible agencies gave explanations and persuaded HCF leaders to abide by the laws and requested the crowd to disperse.
Refusing to obey the laws, Nhuong continued to incite Protestant followers, forcing the responsible agencies to dismiss the crowd and put nine extreme persons, including two leaders in the case, in administrative temporary detention for 24 hours.
After the incident, HCF leaders posted an Internet clip featuring the responsible agencies’ operation to dismiss the crowd, which was used and made into a story on “ Hanoi police oppression over Protestants” by such websites as dongchuacuuthe, nuvuongcongly, and vietcatholic.
The nature of HCF’s case was clear.
The Vietnamese Party and State have always respected citizens’ rights to religious and relief freedom along with creating conditions for all religions to operate in the country.
Illegal religious activities intentionally taken by religious organisations without legal status like the HCF are violations of law and need to be handled in line with the law./.
