Buddhists and
Christians denounce Hanoi for using law to control religions
AsiaNews
10/19/2013
Joint document by leaders of major religions in
Vietnam , against the limitations to freedom posed by the communist government.
The target the 2004 Norm on Religions and the implementation of 2012 Decree. The
separation between state and religion is the basis for a democratic country ,
which must ensure "freedom" and "independence" in religious practice .
Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Far
from being "legal means" to ensure the religious freedom, the norms adopted in
recent years by the Communist government in matters of worship have become an
instrument of repression , subordination and submission to the State of the
faithful and entire communities. This is highlighted in a Joint Declaration by
Vietnamese Religious Leaders - drawn up in early October and published by Eglise
d'Asie ( EDA ) - which strongly criticizes the Norm on Religions in force since
2004 and its implementation of Decree number 92 issued in 2012 . The text was
drawn up and signed by a group formed by Hao Hao Buddhists , Unified Buddhist
Church of Vietnam , members of cadaoismo , Protestant pastors and Catholic
priests . It is directed to government officials in Hanoi , the Parliament,
Vietnamese personalities at home and abroad , as well as the major international
organizations in defense of human rights.
The petitioners through the document - prepared in a timely and rigorous manner
- show how the two norms, far from defending religious freedom, have proved
"tools" in the hands of the state and the Communist Party to control the
faithful and the practice of worship . A criticism already expressed on several
occasions in the past year by both the Buddhist movement and by members of the
Vietnamese Catholic Church .
For the religious leaders the Party and the communist regime consider religion
and spirituality "enemy number one" and still continue to fight it, with
"violence " or with laws and regulations of an administrative and penal nature.
An element that can be found in Vietnam , in the laws of 2004 and 2012 in terms
of religious practice .
In particular, the latest provisions are binding on the faithful and the
community in terms of legal status, staff , activities, goods and foreign
relations . Each alleged violation is punished by force, as has happened several
times in the recent past to Buddhist organizations or Protestant and Catholic
groups, with arrests, abductions , forced detentions , or defamatory press
campaigns (see the attack in recent weeks on the
diocese of Vinh) .
The government wants to use the Church and religious organizations as a "tool"
in the service of the regime or to hide the problems and inadequacies that
characterize Vietnamese society . And also, add religious leaders , to prevent a
real liberation of religion from the state, one of the conditions necessary for
the construction of " a true democratic nation ." The right to religious freedom
is guaranteed by the Constitution , therefore " special laws " relating to
worship as is the case today are not eligible. That is why, concludes the
document , a real "freedom" and "independence" of activities is needed as well
as the opportunity to evangelize without constraints and restrictions, full
ownership of all property and the "restitution" of illegally seized "material
and spiritual goods ". This would also include those who have been arrested and
sentenced to imprisonment for fighting " for religious freedom , democracy and
human rights."