In an official letter to the People’s Committee of Vinh Province, the Catholic Bishop’s Office of Xa Doai, Vinh Diocese protested “the many regrettable conflicts between the government and the Catholics in the districts located in the western part of Nghe An Province.” The letter dated June 16 calls on the government to investigate violent beatings against Catholics while highlighting consistent efforts by the provincial and local governments since 1999 to hinder the formation of a Catholic parish in Chau Binh Village, Quy Chau District.
According to a report posted on the Diocese’s website, in the morning of June 11, 2012, the local government sent public security agents from Quy Chau District and Chau Binh Village along with approximately 50 government-supported vigilantes to disrupt a religious event organized by local Catholics. The attackers interrupted a planned Mass at the house of Mr. Nguyen Van Vi. The attackers turned off power to the house and threw rotten eggs at the area where Mass would be celebrated. The two attending priests had to call off the prayer service and leave.
Also present at the scene were the local chair of the Fatherland Front and the local chair of the Women’s Union.
A number of attackers showed up later at the homes of some participants and beat them up badly, causing severe injuries to at least five individuals: Mr. Tran Van Luong, his wife Mrs. Tran Thi Ru, Mr. Tran Van Phi, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoan, and Mr. Vi Van Anh. Mrs. Ru presently remains in a life-threatening situation.
Since 1999, the Catholics in Chau Binh village have petitioned the provincial authorities for the formation of a parish but to no avail. In the meantime, this community of some 120 Catholics conducts prayers at the homes of members.
“In light of Article 17 of the Ordinance on Belief and Religion, we do not understand the reason why the authorities deny the request of these Catholics and their priests,” wrote Rev. Nguyen Van Huong, the Vinh Diocese Bishop’s Chief of Staff.
The Ordinance on Belief and Religion, issued in 2004, allows a legally recognized religious institution to set up an affiliated entity.
Apparently the June 11 incident is in line with the official communique 03/UBND-NV dated June 4, 2012 of the People’s Committee of Quy Chau District: “…instructing the Chair of the People’s Committee of Chau Binh Village to not allow anyone to organize religious activities in the district absent of the approval by the person with appropriate authority.”
The diocese’s communication emphasized that the local authorities’ action was a serious breach of the law and constituted a violation of religious freedom.
The government’s recent attack against Catholics in Quỳ Châu is the second incident of religious suppression in Vinh Diocese. On November 13, 2011, local authorities in Con Cuong ordered public security agents and vigilantes working for them to disrupt Mass in Con Cuong through yelling, throwing rocks at the chapel, and attacking churchgoers with tear gas while Mass was being celebrated. Public security agents even used home-made bombs that damaged the chapel at Con Cuong in the night of November 30, 2011.
