Truyền Thông Phật Giáo Hoà Hảo

STANDPOINTS OF
HOA HAO BUDDHISM IN VIETNAM

Reportupdated on April 28, 2015

A.  General Background

Hoa Hao Buddhism (HHB) is a Buddhist branch founded by Prophet Huynh Phu So in 1939 at Hoa Hao Village, Tan Chau District, Chau Doc Province in Vietnam (currently belongs to An Giang Province). HHB is mostly developed in the Mekong Delta and is currently one of the four most popular religions in Vietnam. Before 1975, the number of Hoa Hao Buddhists (HH) was around 7 million. The actual number of HH is yet unknown. According to the Vietnamese government’s statistics, the number of HH at present is 1.5 million.  Thisis a doubtful number as the Vietnamese population has doubled during the past 40 years. Furthermore, the independent HH followers who are not registered in state-sanctioned churcheshave not been taken into account.

After the fall of Saigon in April 1975, the Communist government of Vietnam dissolved the administrative structure and confiscated all properties of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregation (HHC). In 1999, the government established another organization bearing the same name "Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregation" and gave this latter organizationa monopoly role. Many HH followers do not accept this new organization, believing its state-sponsored character does not comply with the tradition of HHB. Since then,independent HH followers who do not register with this latter organization have been considered illegal and their activities suppressed without mercy.

Currently, the Vietnamese government commitsserious violations of the right to freedom of religion of HH followers, specifically:

1/ Violation of the right tohave a religion of one’s choice:

·         Local authoritiesare forcing independent HH followers to register with the state-run HHC and accept the control of the state-run HHC.

·         Independent HH followers are monitored and assaulted by security officers, making them economically and socially isolated.

2/ Violation of the right to manifest thereligion throughworship:

·         After 1975, worshipping facilities of the original HHC were expropriated by theVietnamese Communist Party to eitherget transformed into government offices or sold to individuals or business organizations. In 1999, a few facilities of the original HHC that were confiscated or sold, such as the Master Temple An Hoa Tu (Chua Thay), were given either to the state-run HHCor to governmental agencies, which were then misused or left abandoned.

·         Independent HH followers are forbidden to gatherto commemoratethe Day of Prophet Huynh’s Victimization. This was the day when the Prophet was attacked by communist forces and disappeared, and is now one of the three major days ofcommemorationof HHB every year. As for the two remaining important days, which are Prophet Huynh’s Sacred Birthday and the Hoa Hao Day of Initiation, the government also prohibits independent HH followers from gathering in places other than those of the state-run HHC.

3/ Violation of the right to manifest the religion through observance and practice:

·         Independent HH followers are not permitted to gather to pray or worship at private homes, independent pagodas, or ashrams (places used for religious activities and retreats) that conform to Prophet Huynh’s teaching. These activities of independent HH followers have been constantly disturbed or dissolved by the local authorities.

·         Many social, health-related, charitable and educational activities of independent HH followers have been impeded or forbidden by the government.

·         Many independent HH followers have been arrested and imprisoned for practicing their religion.

4/ Violation of the right to manifest the religion throughteaching:

·         The Vietnamese government hinders the teaching of the HHB doctrine at private homesof independent HH followers on days of remembrance. Local security officers threaten and harass worshipers, overpower the preaching by using high-capacity amplifiers to disturb them, or have thugs throw rocks into the houses of the HH followers.

·         The original version of HHBreligious scriptures and the "Teaching Literature" written by Prophet Huynh have been confiscated and are not allowed to be circulated. Anyone who tries to disseminate these materials will be arrested. The government instead published two censored versions of the books, eliminating many writings of Prophet Huynh in the period from 1942 to 1947 or replacing a great number of important words that are“sensitive" to the current regime.Independent HH followers who re-produced the original version of the religious teaching materials by means of CDs and DVDs have been arrested, and the circulation of these CDs and DVDs has also been prohibited. Other independent HH followers, who are determined to protect the authenticity of HHB and who havetried to print the original materials,have been put in jail and the teaching materials seized.

B.  Current Difficulties

1/ External threats:

·         The Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions of 2004 and the implementation of Decree 92 in 2012 have forced all religious groups in Vietnam to apply for a permit in order to conduct religious activities. Without approval from the government,religious activities of independent HH groups are deemed illegal.

·         The Vietnamese government only permits the state-sanctioned HHC to conduct religious activities and oppresses activities of independent HH groups.

·         Local governments have adopted unlawful measures such as defaming independent HH followers, hiring thugs andusing undercover security agents disguised as thugs, “angry citizens” or so called “spontaneous mobs” to attack their private homes, ashrams and temples.

·         The local governments are isolating independent HH followers from earning their livings and their livelihood in their communities.

2/ Internal struggles:

·         Independent HH followers donot have places to meet and worship regularly since the government had confiscated the operating and worshipping facilities of the original Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregation in 1975 and had dissolvedreligious gatheringsat private homes.

·         Due to the ongoing repression and imprisonment ofindependent HH followers, HHgroups are currently short of personnel to carry out their work.

·         Due to the ongoing repression and social isolation ofindependent HH followers, HH groups are struggling to raise fundsto support religious teachingsand other humanitarian activities.

·         HHB is a native religion in Vietnam which has spreadin the Mekong Delta with activities concentrated in the provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Kien Giang, and thecity of Can Tho.Independent followers of HHBare mostly unknown to the international community and do not get the attention from international human rights organizations. Thus, independent followers of HHB areeasily oppressed and isolated by the Vietnamese government.

C. Requests to the Vietnamese Government

·         Respect and protect the right of all HH followers inpracticing their religion. HH followers should be allowed to confess their religion on all personal documents without being discriminated. All acts of forcing independent HH followers to join the state-sanctioned HHC should be prohibited. The Vietnamese government should also forbid the social isolation of independent HH followers and any action that triggers the discrimination against HH followers who are not affiliated with the state-sanctioned HHB Church.

·         Respect and protect the right of freedom to manifest HHB through worship, either individually or in the community with others in temples, ashrams and at the homes of independent HH followers. The government should forbid their officials and agents from dissolving religious celebrations at private residences, and from assaulting, harassing, intimidating and arresting independent HH followers when they try to participate in religious ceremonies.

·         Respect and protect the right of independent HH groups to manifest their religion through practice and to elect their own leaders. They should not be forced to register with thestate-run HHC. When they have the need, independent HH groups shall be recognized as associations with legal entities.

·         Respect and protect the right offreedom to compose, produce and publish HHB training materials in various forms. Specifically, independent HH followers shall have the freedom to copy and circulate the original version of Prophet Huynh’s teachingwithout being subjected to any censorship.

·         Repeal all articles in the Ordinance, decrees and bylaws that violate the right to freedom of religion according to Article 24 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of 2013 and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

·         Stop arresting independent HH followers for any religious cause then sentencing them with criminal charges such as “Resisting officers in performing their duties” (Article 257 of the Criminal Code), “Causing public disorder” (Article 245 of the Criminal Code), or “Abusing democratic freedoms” (Article 258 of the Criminal code). The following independent HH followers must be released immediately and unconditionally:

1.          Mr. Nguyễn Văn Lía, sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and currently jailed in Xuan Loc Prison, Dong Nai Province

2.          Ms. Dương Thị Tròn, sentenced to 9 years in prison and currently jailed in Xuan Loc Prison, Dong Nai Province

3.          Mr. Bùi Văn Trung, sentenced to 4 years in prison and currently jailed in Xuan Loc Prison, Dong Nai Province

4.          Mr. Dương Văn Thả, sentenced to 3 years in prison and currently jailed in Xuyen MocPrison, BaRia - Vung Tau Province

5.          Mr. Nguyễn Văn Minh, sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison and currently jailed in An PhuocPrison, Binh DuongProvince

Nguyen Bac Truyen (Mr)

On behalf of the "Hoa Hao Buddhist Group Southwest”