Vinh: amid threats and attacks, 50 thousand Catholics pray for release of the two parishioners
Hanoi ( AsiaNews)
- Vietnamese Catholics have responded with prayer to threats and attacks by the media,
state and army of Hanoi. For
a few weeks, thousands of police, members of the communist student youth soldiers
and paramilitary organizations have been carrying out a series of anti -riot military
exercises. Meanwhile
, the government media continue their smear campaign against the diocese of
Vinh, in the north , fighting for the respect of religious freedom and the
release of two parishioners for months in prison without trial or having
committed any crime. This
past weekend, as has happened on several occasions in September, the local
Catholic community gathered in great numbers to celebrate Mass and pray for
peace and recognition of the inalienable rights of all citizens.
On
October 6, at least 50 thousand Catholics in the parish of Thuan Nghia took
part in the Sunday service , concelebrated by 20 priests (pictured ), a
response to new attacks by the government media, announcing more arrests and
indictments against Catholics . A
peaceful protest , made even stronger and more impressive following the
devastation caused by the passage of the typhoon Wutif throughout the area which
flooded roads , knocked down power lines along the highway A1, demolished
thousands of homes and damaged dozens of churches.
In
spite of the damage inflicted by the strong winds and rains, the faithful were
unwilling to cancel the Mass and prayers, the weapons chosen by the community
and Church leaders to respond to the government attacks. Catholics
have been clamoring for the release of the two parishioners in My Yen, who are
now considered to be the "prisoners of state," an end to persecution
and the smear
campaign against the diocese of Vinh .
Not
far from the place chosen by the Catholics for Mass, thousands of police , para
- military and members of pro-government organizations held a series of
exercises in riot gear The exercises focus on the release of hostages, area patrols,
crowd control and urban warfare. The
exercises take place, particularly on Sundays , in conjunction with the
Christian functions , which for Catholics is a clear "provocation"
and "deterrent" , with the aim of fomenting tension in the area .
The
dispute between the state and Catholic centre on events linked to the parish of
My Yen, calls for the release of two faithful (Peter Ngo Van Khoi and Anthony Nguyen Van Hai) , in prison since last June without charge.
The
support of Catholic leaders - who
have received letters of appreciation and solidarity from the main religious
leaders of the country - has triggered the reaction of the local and
central authorities , which have threatened to intervene harshly to quell
protests or demonstrations of dissent. Many
Masses and prayer meetings have been held in recent weeks, including the
function at the Shrine of St. Anthony , a center of pilgrimage in the diocese
of Vinh not far from the place where the violent
police crackdown of September 4 occurred.
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