VIETNAMESE  MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF USA

1329 Lane Avenue S. Ste 1. Jacksonville  Florida  32205.

Tel. (904)781-4103.  Fax (904) 781-9141. E-mail: camhoang@juno.com

 

 

 

Statement of the Vietnamese Medical Association of the USA

Re:  Escalation of religion repression in Vietnam

 

 

Whereas, since its rise to  power, the Vietnamese Communist Party has  always strictly controlled all religious activities. It has spared no means to remove the influence of religion on  people and has remained hostile to the religious faithful,

                      

 Whereas, since May 9, 2001, Communist Vietnam has disallowed the Reverend Nguyen,Van Ly's pastoral privileges for his adamant protests over the government policies on religion.  Later, on May 17, 2001, it  sent hundreds of security agents to arrest the priest at the An Tuyen parish of the diocese of Hue.  These are acts of violence that seriously infringe upon the freedom of expression and religion.

 

 Whereas, Communist Vietnam has incarcerated The Buddhist High Priest Thich Huyen Quang for 19 years despite his old age and grave illness.  It has thus deprived him of a due medical treatment.  Also, it has hindered the Buddhist High priest Thich Quang Do's attempt to transfer the Buddhist High priest Thich Huyen Quang for  medical care.  These acts typify the inhumane behaviors of the present leaders of Vietnam.

 

Whereas, the Communist Vietnam's policy of constant menace and intimidation aimed at the clergy and laity of the Cao Dai Church, Hoa Hao Buddhist Church and other Christian Evangelical Churches is unacceptable.

 

Therefore, the Vietnamese Medical Association of  the USA wishes to make it known that:

 

1. The VMA-USA strongly supports all legitimate struggles  for freedom of religion and other human rights. 

 

2. The VMA-USA strongly condemned these aforementioned inhumane treatments of  The Reverend Nguyen, Van Ly, The Buddhist High Priest Thich Huyen Quang, and the clergy of other religions by Communist Vietnam. It also holds the Vietnamese Communist regime accountable for the Buddhist High Priest Thich Huyen Quang's state of health.

 

3. The VMA-USA asks all governments of the world community and their legislative bodies as well as international human rights monitoring organizations  to press Communist Vietnam to:

 

 - Immediately and unconditionally release the religious leaders and their laity it has  detained.

 - Immediately abandon the practice of controlling and discouraging worship

in any way.

 

4. The VMA-USA also asks the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights to send an envoy to meet with the religious leaders in Vietnam including but  not limited to the Reverend Nguyen, Van Ly, The High Priest Thich Huyen Quang and the Elderly Le, Quang Liem.

 

Resolved on the twenty second day of the month of May of the year 2001 in the United States of America.

 

Cam Hoang, M.D., President,

VMA-USA Executive Committee