Statement Interfaith Council of Vietnam: Support for the Statement by Interfaith Council of Vietnam Concerning Efforts to Eliminate Religious Institutions from Thu Thiem.

Interfaith Council of Vietnam

Change | Sep 16, 2014

Regarding Religious Institutions in the New Thu Thiem City Development

According to government’s plan, Thu Thiem area within Ho Chi Minh City will be developed into a new city with eight development zones for commercial, residential, administrative, entertainment, transportation and educational purpose. In short, most essential things a new city needs will be present with one very odd exception: there is no plan for the establishment of any religious institutions such as temples, churches or even offices for charity services.

For years, many religious institutions have existed in Thu Thiem including Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross (174 years), Thu Thiem Catholic Church (154 years), Lien Tri Pagoda (70 years), and more recently facilities operated by Vietnam Evangelical Church and Mennonite Church. All of these institutions provide much needed religious services, spiritual support and other benefits to the local population. Some of the long established institutions are also recognized for their pioneering contribution in developing Thu Thiem into what it is today.

However, after Thu Thiem development plan was drawn up, Ho Chi Minh City government illegally relocated more than ten thousand families from the area (at present, there are already eleven thousand complaints filed) and conspired to eliminate the mentioned above religious institutions. In fact, facilities owned by Vietnam Evangelical Church and Mennonite Church were already shut down in 2003 and 2010 respectively. The remaining three institutions have been coerced to move numerous times but so far they have resisted. In their latest attempt, local government is threatening to demolish Lien Tri Pagoda by the end of September 2014 if the residing abbot does not accept their compensation payment.

Local government announced that Thu Thiem development plan is for the long term benefit and development of Ho Chi Minh City. How can people’s religious and spiritual needs be met when long term development gives no consideration for religious institutions? How can freedom of religion as prescribed in the Constitution be accomplished? And, whether this is really all about lucrative payout for officials by taking control of the prime real estate involved?

Or perhaps those in charge of the new Thu Thiem city development do not believe in religion because they are Communist. But the residents of Thu Thiem have their needs for religion, for spiritual guidance and to practice their faiths. And the city of Thu Thiem needs religious institutions to provide the foundation for moral values and humanity, just as religious belief had provided that foundation throughout our history.

Therefore, the Interfaith Council of Vietnam:

1. Vehemently protest the previous demolition and elimination of many religious facilities, and the current coercion to relocate the remaining religious institutions in Thu Thiem.

2. Strongly urge city government to modify the current development plan and ensure the protection of all facilities and properties belonging to Lien Tri Pagoda, Thu Thiem Catholic Church and Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross; and to ensure the return of properties belonging to Vietnam Evangelical Church and Mennonite Church.

3. Resolutely affirm that all religious institutions in Thu Thiem should never be eliminated because of their long history of dedicated services and benefits provided to society and the local residents.

4. Unequivocally declare that the effort to force the relocation of existing religious institutions from Thu Thiem is a clear evidence that the Government of Vietnam is violating freedom of religion as prescribed by the Constitution, denying citizens of their spiritual needs, contradicting long term development for humanity, and creating the risk for further moral degradation not just for Thu Thiem but for the whole country.

5. Finally, we urge local government to satisfactorily resolve all complaints filed by former residents of Thu Thiem who were unjustly relocated.

September 15, 2014

Signed by the following members of the Interfaith Council of Vietnam:
Catholic:
• Reverend Peter Phan Văn Lợi (Tel: 0984.236.371)
• Reverend Joseph Đinh Hữu Thoại (Tel: 0935.569.205)
• Reverend Anthony Lê Ngọc Thanh (Tel: 0993.598.820)

Buddhist:
• Venerable Thích Không Tánh (Tel: 0165.6789.881)
• Venerable Thích Viên Hỷ (Tel: 0937.777.312)

Protestant Churches:
• Pastor Nguyễn Hoàng Hoa (Tel: 0121.9460.045)
• Pastor Đinh Uỷ (Tel: 0163.5847.464)
• Pastor Đinh Thanh Trường (Tel: 0120.2352.348)
• Pastor Nguyễn Hồng Quang (Tel: 0978.207.007)
• Pastor Phạm Ngọc Thạch (Tel: 0912.000.709)
• Pastor Nguyễn Trung Tôn (Tel: 0906.342.908)
• Pastor Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng (Tel: 0906.342.908)
• Pastor Lê Quang Du (Tel: 0121.2002.001)

Cao Dai:
• First Master Hứa Phi (Tel: 0163.3273.240)
• First Master Nguyễn Kim Lân (Tel: 0988.971.117)
• First Master Nguyễn Bạch Phụng (Tel: 0988.477.719)

Hoa Hao Buddhist:
• Mr. Lê Quang Liêm, Chairman (Tel: 0199.2432.593)
• Mr. Phan Tấn Hòa (Tel: 0162.6301.082)
• Mr. Tống Văn Chính (Tel: 0163.5745.430)
• Mr. Lê Văn Sóc (Tel: 096.4199.039)