September 1, 2008
After Communist Vietnamese police arrested several parishioners of Thai Ha Redemptorist parish who were seeking to reclaim property seized by the Communist state, hundreds rallied outside a police station to call for their release. In the spirit of solidarity and peaceful resistance, Catholic priests and parishioners gathered after prayers at 2:30pm on the evening of August 27th to organised a rally with the alter and statue of Mother Maria. In front of the Dong Da District police headquarters, parishioners held prayer vigils and peaceful demonstrations, hoisting up banners “opposing the detention of aggrieved people”, “opposing the arrest of innocent civilians”, “Thai Ha parishioners together in solidarity”. The police had to block the gate and cordon off the rally. By 7:45pm, the number of people gathering to protest and pray for the release of parishioners arrested in the morning had rose to nearly 500 citizens, including other priests and followers. Riot police then began mobilised to step up their presence.
The public, peaceful demonstration escalated to violence when police used electric batons to relentlessly beat the peaceful parishioners and forcibly took some into custody. Some were severely wounded. As the unrest continued into the night, other followers took to the street in solidarity with the Catholic community.
We have an exclusive with father Nam Phong of Thai Ha parish.
Father Nam Phong: As you already know, on August 27th, Dong Da District police issued a criminal case against the prayer vigil by Thai Ha parishioners. Yesterday police arrested four of our parishioners without apparent cause. According to Vietnamese Laws, the authorities could only force an individual into custody after the third time the person’s receive a summons. However, the police only sent our parishioners the summon dossier at 6 am, and by 7am they already taken into custody for interrogation and investigation. Because of that injustice and breach of the law, at 2pm yesterday about 100 parishioners and priests approached theDong Da District police headquarter to protest the illegal arrests. By 9pm there were about 300 more joining us. When we were praying, riot police were mobilised with a very large number, up to about 500 men. They used electric batons and beat us in cold blood. Consequently some of our parishioners sustained very bad injuries. Some got severe head wounds. Others got their clothes stained with blood.
We strongly oppose this act of aggression by the Vietnamese government oppressing innocent Catholic people. We gathered only to pray and call for the release of people who had been unjustly arrested. But our demands were not met; rather, we were put under brutal mistreatment. We strongly condemn such illegal acts, strongly condemn the savage acts of Vietnamese government using electric batons and sticks.
Nguyen Vu: Father, by next morning, images of parishioners praying in protest and elder Vietnamese women with their faces soaked in blood had hit the Internet and international media outlets. These images showed women had suffered physical abuse at the demonstrations. Father, what is the response from the parishioners of Thai Ha, in light of this news?
Father Nam Phong: All our parishioners have come back to the church and they were all very indignant that the authorities perpetrated such inhumane acts. The only thing we did was to demand the government to uphold the law. That’s the very thing that the government has been calling the citizens to do but, contradictory to that, the government has actually violated the law. We only request the authorities to give us the land back. The land that we are reclaiming has all legitimate and legal documents. The evidences the authority has given out are all illegal. When we put up such request, they have used all means including prosecuting our people in order to eliminate our determination. However, the parishioners are very determined in the face of oppression and injustice. Such acts of oppression will spur us on; the people’s moral is not deterred. They will try to get justice and truth back to Thai Ha Catholic community in particular, and Vietnamese Catholic community as a whole.
Nguyen Vu: Father, along with sympathy from all over the world and from within Vietnam, have you received any support from the Catholic community, as well as from people in Vietnam and overseas?
Father Nam Phong: Yes, we are very grateful despite the fact that we were not able to join the pray for justice and the truth for Miss Nhan (Lawyer Nguyen Thi Cong Nhan). We have received many compliments and encouragements from your organisation and other. From the Catholic Church, we have received encouragements from Arch-bishop Ngo Quang Kiet and some Bishops of the Vietnamese Catholic Council and of course from priests in Hanoi parish. Last night when parishioners were beaten and terrorised, there were some Hanoi priests present who witnessed the injustice.
Nguyen Vu: In light of the decision of the Dong Da District Communist authority to prosecute priests and parishioners of Thai Ha parish with criminal charges, what is your opinion?
Father Nam Phong: We have sent request to authorities to reconsider this decision made by the Dong Da district People’s Committee. And we have affirmed our position to move forward petition the illegal confiscation of our church’s property – the cause of all recent unrests. The government should prosecute the Xuan Thang Garment Company whose own personnel have destroyed our properties in an illegal manner. However, we know that the government will not grant us the simple request of returning our land, let alone the request to prosecute the authority itself. But we still believe in justice. Many parishioners have witnessed the image of Mother Maria this morning when the sun rose and we think that is a sign, a sign that Mother Maria will help us. We are determined and steadfast in our fight for justice and truth.
Nguyen Vu: Father, have those parishioners arrested by the police been released? Have you got any news from them?
Father Nam Phong: Yes, last night, one was released. However, during the beating, they took away three others. Those people were mainly taking pictures. They got there and used personal cameras to take photos of the event. They took pictures of police personnel savagely oppressing innocent people. Those people were arrested and taken away and up to now we still haven’t had any information.
Nguyen Vu: Father, how is the condition of the elder woman who was beaten on the face?
Father Nam Phong: The elder woman is now resting at our place. Her condition is now stable. However during the escalation of violence yesterday there were young people beaten as well. Many policemen struck them on the face, provoking shock and horror from witnesses, including non-religious people, on the inhumane act of the police.
Nguyen Vu: Before concluding Father, would you like to send any message to our radio’s listeners?
Father Nam Phong: Firstly we would like to deeply thank all of our supporters not only during the recent days but also during the previous long eight months when our parishioners gathered to pray for justice and peace. Today we wish you to continue your support in this difficult time because we know that the government will not stop; they will use all measures including utmost depraved tactics to rob our rightful property from us forever. We call everyone for your encouragement and all of your landing hands. Please help us fight for justice in Vietnam, for the liberation of innocent people. Most important, if there is a way to announce to the world what has happened here so they all see the outright abuse of the Vietnamese government on our innocent civilians. Once again I would like to thank the radio station and all listeners. I wish all of you peace. I pray for your happiness and success each day. Goodbye.
Nguyen Vu: On behalf of Chan Troi Moi Radio’s listeners, I would like to thank Father Nam Phong. I would also like to share a prayer with our priests as well as parishioners of Thai Ha. Thank you Father.
Father Nam Phong: Thank you all.