From 13 to 17 May 2008, the Vietnamese government will host the 5th United Nations’ Day of the Vesak in Hanoi. This should be a happy occasion, a day to remember Buddha’s message of tolerance and peace, and to inspire all people, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, to work together towards mutual understanding and harmonious coexistence in our world.
However, we are deeply disturbed by recent reports of grave repressions against Buddhism, the very faith Hanoi claims to celebrate. Only the State-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, controlled by the Communist Party’s Fatherland Front, will attend the celebrations, while the independent, traditional Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) remains banned and its leaders are prisoners in their own pagodas.
In the run-up to the Vesak, Police have seized UBCV pagodas to use for State-sponsored events, evicted and harassed monks, nuns and lay-followers in Lam Dong, Hue, Quang Tri and elsewhere. On 2 May 2008, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed deep concern on “significant official harassment of monks, nuns and youth leaders associated with the UBCV”, including the long-term house arrest of Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, and his Deputy Thich Quang Do, a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Moreover, the Commission recommended that Vietnam be re-designated in 2008 as a “Country of Particular Concern”.
Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organization, non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and a signatory to key UN human rights treaties. As such, you have a binding obligation to uphold internationally-recognised freedoms and rights.
On the occasion of the UN Day of Vesak, we urge Hanoi to cease repression of the UBCV, to immediately release Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang and Most Venerable Thich Quang Do and to restore the UBCV’s legitimate status. Ony by this gesture they will restore true significance to the UN Day of the Vesak, and honour the 2000 year heritage of Buddhism in Vietnam.
Marco Pannella, MEP Italy Radicals –ALDE, President of the Nonviolent Radical Party
Graham Watson, MEP, UK Lib-Dem President of the ALDE Group at the European Parliament
Emma Bonino, MP, Italy Vice President of the Senate, Radicals- Democratic Party
Luisa Morgantini, MEP, Italy Communist, -United Left, Vice-President of the European Parliament
Marco Cappato, MEP, Italy Radical – ALDE
Son Chhay, MP, Cambodia Sam Rainsy Party
Charles Tannock, MEP, UK, Tories -EPP
Luca Romagnoli, MEP, Italy - Non-attached Member
Kinga Gál, MEP Hungary EPP
Marco Perduca, MP, Radicals, Italy - Democratic Party
Matteo Mecacci, MP, Radicals, Italy - Democratic Party
However, we are deeply disturbed by recent reports of grave repressions against Buddhism, the very faith Hanoi claims to celebrate. Only the State-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, controlled by the Communist Party’s Fatherland Front, will attend the celebrations, while the independent, traditional Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) remains banned and its leaders are prisoners in their own pagodas.
In the run-up to the Vesak, Police have seized UBCV pagodas to use for State-sponsored events, evicted and harassed monks, nuns and lay-followers in Lam Dong, Hue, Quang Tri and elsewhere. On 2 May 2008, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed deep concern on “significant official harassment of monks, nuns and youth leaders associated with the UBCV”, including the long-term house arrest of Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, and his Deputy Thich Quang Do, a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Moreover, the Commission recommended that Vietnam be re-designated in 2008 as a “Country of Particular Concern”.
Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organization, non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and a signatory to key UN human rights treaties. As such, you have a binding obligation to uphold internationally-recognised freedoms and rights.
On the occasion of the UN Day of Vesak, we urge Hanoi to cease repression of the UBCV, to immediately release Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang and Most Venerable Thich Quang Do and to restore the UBCV’s legitimate status. Ony by this gesture they will restore true significance to the UN Day of the Vesak, and honour the 2000 year heritage of Buddhism in Vietnam.
Marco Pannella, MEP Italy Radicals –ALDE, President of the Nonviolent Radical Party
Graham Watson, MEP, UK Lib-Dem President of the ALDE Group at the European Parliament
Emma Bonino, MP, Italy Vice President of the Senate, Radicals- Democratic Party
Luisa Morgantini, MEP, Italy Communist, -United Left, Vice-President of the European Parliament
Marco Cappato, MEP, Italy Radical – ALDE
Son Chhay, MP, Cambodia Sam Rainsy Party
Charles Tannock, MEP, UK, Tories -EPP
Luca Romagnoli, MEP, Italy - Non-attached Member
Kinga Gál, MEP Hungary EPP
Marco Perduca, MP, Radicals, Italy - Democratic Party
Matteo Mecacci, MP, Radicals, Italy - Democratic Party
3 comments:
Bravo EU, we thank you for your support and pressuring Vietnam government to do what it has signup for.
Finally the international communities are realizing the truth of the bad blood of the Yuon government.
Chayo Khmer and Chayo Buddhist.
demand freedom of religion and expression from the commy viet gov't.
This monster using buddhism as a shield or a veil to hide their face.Please don't let it happen again in the future.
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