Vietnamese bishops defend family who fought against forced evictions
Hanoi (AsiaNews / EDA) - The Vietnamese bishops have lined up alongside Peter Doan Van Vuon and his relatives - dubbed the "brave family" for their opposition to forced seizure of their property ordered by the authorities - who faces murder and resistance to public official charges filed by local authorities. The trial began on 2 April, in the Hai Phong People's Court, a port city in the northeast of the country. Critics believe the sentence could be handed down as early as April 5th in a sham trial that will decide against him. A few days later - between April 8 and 10 - his sisters, charged with "opposing the government agents engaged in the performance of their duties" will also be brought to trial.
The story involving the Doan Vuon family is just the latest episode in a long series of clashes between authorities and citizens, between the government and the Catholic Church, over land possession and ownership of buildings or commercial activities. In this case, the controversy revolves around the 40 acres of land that Peter bought on the back of a government grant in 1993, and which over the years, thanks to his work, he transformed from marshes and swamps into a fishery.
In 2009, when he finally began to see the first profits, the authorities, in a completely arbitrary way, decided to claim the rights to the area. After a long battle, on November 24, 2011, the administration issued an ultimatum, which required the family abandon the lands and its business.
Instead of bow to the abuse of the authorities, Peter and family members decided to react: On January 5, 2012 a group of soldiers approached the area to apply the decree of expropriation. The soldiers were "greeted" by a forest of shots: bullets and grenades that did not intend to kill, but to prevent access to the residence. No-one was injured in the clash; after a few days, the police carried out a new raid, arresting family members now on trial for "murder". Their strong defense has picked up the solidarity of Catholics and others, amazed by the determination of the Doan Vuon in defending their work.
The President of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Vietnamese Church, Msgr. Paul Nguyen Thai Hop and the Bishop of Hai Phong Joseph Vu Van Thien have also come out in defense of the family. The two prelates are the first signatories of one of the many petitions calling for the release of the accused and the full acquittal of all charges. In their letter the bishops dismantled every accusation made by the authorities step by step and reiterate their absolute innocence to the facts alleged as a crime. Bishop Nguyen Thai Hop and Msgr. Vu Van Thien point out that the family has only exercised a "legitimate right of defense" of a commercial activity "fruit of his [Peter Doan Van Vuon] sweat and that of his relatives." For this reason they appeal to the court for an "independent" ruling and to clear the defendants of all charges.
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