The Supporting Committee for Democracy and Religious Freedom in Vietnam express its deep concern on the violations of religious freedom and people's rights which have been taking place in Thai Ha parish, Hanoi.

The confiscation of a great part of land belonging to this parish by Vietnamese government has hit the heart of many Canadians. The Catholic priests of Mother House Sainte Anne de Beaupré, Quebec, bought this land in 1928 to build the first home of Redemptorists in Vietnam and the church for Thai Ha parish later.

The accusation of eight parishioners by Hanoi tribunal for the crime of "destructing the property of state and disturbing public order" is an offence to justice and truth. These innocent believers were unlawfully condemned for an imaginary crime, even on probation, in a trial of Dong Da district tribunal, Ha Noi, on December 8, 2008. In reality, they only attended peaceful prayer vigils on the land of their own parish and, at the same time, protected the property of the church. They did not show any act of violence or destruction.

For the above reasons, we call on the Vietnamese government to return justice to eight wrongly condemned parishioners and to give back confiscated lands to their real owners. We also request the government of Canada to do all necessary to persuade the government of Hanoi to respect human rights and religious freedom.

December 9, 2008

Alain OUELLET, lawyer

President

Supporting Committee for Democracy And Religious Freedom in Vietnam

151 Atwater

CP 72126

Montreal, QC H3J 2Z6


Canada