53 religious communities in Vietnam commemorating victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief, with government interference documented in five communities
Press Release by BPSOS
Contact: [email protected]
September 16, 2019
Responding to the call by UN Secretary General António Gutteres, numerous religious communities in Vietnam observed August 22 as International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Observance was conducted in the form of prayer services at churches and temples, outdoor candlelight vigils, or home-based gatherings for silent prayer. See: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Oppressed-by-the-regime,-Catholics-in-L%E1%BB%99c-H%C6%B0ng-pray-for-religious-freedom-47839.html
On May 28 of this year the UN General Assembly passed Resolution A/Res/73/296 to designate August 22 of each year to be International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Two days later, BPSOS launched a public campaign to inform religious communities in Vietnam about and encourage their support of this resolution.
Of the 53 communities that BPSOS closely monitored, commemoration activities went smoothly except in five Cao Dai communities. An inter-agency team led by a provincial government official trespassed a private home in Cho Gao District where a score of Cao Dai followers had gathered for a commemorating prayer service. They were instructed that the provincial government had not authorized observance of the said UN Resolution. Nevertheless, after the government officials had left, the Cao Dai followers proceeded with their commemorating activity.
In the weeks following August 22,
