The Hoa Hao Buddhist Sect’s Central Executive Committee has asked the authorities of the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho to strictly punish siblings Dang Thanh Dinh and Dang Van Nghia for their illegal missionary activities.

The opinionated and extremist activities of Dinh, 42, and Nghia, 38, both now residing in Phuoc Thoi ward, O Mon district of Can Tho City, and their disregard of the laws were also announced at a press conference jointly held by the Can Tho City Fatherland Front, the Religion Committee and relevant agencies in Can Tho on August 23.

Earlier, on Feb. 27, 2010, Can Tho city’s relevant agencies announced the legal violations of Dinh and Nghia, who took advantage of religious titles to illegally teach Hoa Hao Buddhism to seek profit and cause social security disorder.

The Hoa Hao Buddhist Sect’s Executive Committee of Phuoc Thoi ward confirmed in its document that Dinh and Nghia are neither Hoa Hao Buddhist followers nor Hoa Hao dogmas teachers.

However, both Dinh and Nghia declared themselves Hoa Hao Buddhist followers and regularly held get-togethers without permission on the seventh and eighth days every month to illegally carry out missionary work, offer medical check-ups, and print and distribute almost 20,000 CDs and cassette tapes with private religious missionary content.

At the press conference, Hoa Hao Buddhist followers voiced their support for Hoa Hao Buddhism, recognised by the state since 1999 with the guideline, “For religion, for the nation” and condemned Dinh and Nghia’s illegal missionary work which has stirred up popularity.

They requested the State protect the genuineness of Hoa Hao Buddhism and called on Hoa Hao Buddhist followers to be vigilant of demagogic tones of ill elements who take advantage of religious freedom and belief to make profits and cause disorder./.