Hoa Hao Buddhist Self-Immolate in Vietnam, Five More Detained

Local authorities in Vinh Long province arrested Mr. Tam Luoc (Dong Hoa village, Dong Thanh hamlet, Binh Minh District, Vinh Long Province) and four other Hoa Hao Buddhists as they made preparations to hold a prayer vigil for Venerable Tran Van Ut and Mr. Vo Van Buu. Venerable Tran Van Ut (died on August 5, 2005) and Mr. Vo Van Buu (body confiscated by local authorities, whereabout unknown) self-immolated on August 5, 2005 to protest the escalated persecution of Hoa Hao Buddhists by the Vietnamese government and provincial authorities.

(PRWEB) August 20, 2005 -- Local authorities in Vinh Long province arrested Mr. Tam Luoc (Dong Hoa village, Dong Thanh hamlet, Binh Minh District, Vinh Long Province) and four other Hoa Hao Buddhists as they made preparations to hold a prayer vigil for Venerable Tran Van Ut and Mr. Vo Van Buu. Venerable Tran Van Ut (died on August 5, 2005) and Mr. Vo Van Buu (body confiscated by local authoritis, whereabout unknown) self-immolated on August 5, 2005 to protest the escalated persecution of Hoa Hao Buddhists by the Vietnamese government and provincial authorities.

The Hoa Hao Buddhist Church of Vietnam reported local authorities are cracking down on Hoa Hao Buddhists all over the Mekong Delta regions. As the Hoa Hao Buddhist community prepares for Le Vu Lan (comparable to Mothers Day), the local authorities are increasing their policy of harassment and persecution of the Hoa Hao Buddhist faithfuls.

Due to the intense crack down, the planned protest by Hoa Hao Buddhists in An Giang, Dong Thap and Vinh Long provinces has been cancelled.

The protest is used to ask the Government of Vietnam to honor and give its citizens true religious freedom. The Hoa Hao Buddhist Church of Vietnam under the leadership of Mr. Le Quang Liem respectfully request the Vietnamese Government to do the following:

1.   Release all religious prisoners. In particular, the following Hoa Hao Buddhists should be released: Venerable Nguyen Van Dien, Venerable Vo Van Thanh Liem, Ms. Mai Thi Dung, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Ms. Phan Thi Tiem, Mr. Tran Van Manh and all other Hoa Hao Buddhists detained in the past couple of weeks.
2.   Release the body of Mr. Vo Van Buu so his family can conduct a proper burial.
3.   Allow the Hoa Hao Buddhists to self-goverance without Governmental intervention.
4.   Allow the free publication and distributions of Hoa Hao Buddhist Holy Scriptures (Sam Giang Thi Van Giao Ly written by Prophet Huynh Phu So).
5.   Allow the Hoa Hao Buddhists to celebrate their holy days with our intervention from local authorities.

For additional information, please visit www.pghh.org, email info@pghh.org or call Mr. Coi Van Nguyen at 412-956-6817.

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