Below is the equivalent English translation of the original Vietnamese version of the said Document …
People's Committee
Hanoi City
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Independence-Freedom-Happiness
No.: 273/UBND-VX
Re: Violation of Hanoi Archbishop's Office and Thai Ha Parish
Hanoi - January 11, 2008
To: Your Excellency Nguyen Van Nhon - President of Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops
Your Excellency Ngo Quang Kiet - Archbishop of Hanoi
Best greetings to you all from the People’s Committee of Hanoi City!
Over the past few years, Hanoi City always shows its concern and makes favorable condition for the activities of the laity and the Archbishop’s office within the diocese of Hanoi. Such activities as: the welcoming ceremony of Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe – the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples - on his visit to the Church here in Vietnam; the ordination mass for clergies at the Archbishop’s Office; the annual Christmas mass celebration; other solemn masses in the pastoral agenda of the Conference of Catholic Bishops; and recently the 10th Meeting of the Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops. The latter was very successful and we highly appreciated the participation of clergy and the laity in all activities of the city.
Until recently, we regret, however, that the Hanoi Archbishop’s Office and Thai Ha Parish have specifically abused their religion and belief via the laity by violating against the law on religious activities as follows:
(1) On the Side of Hanoi Archbishop’s Office:
On December 15, 2007, the Archbishop not only sent a Letter to all parishes within the diocese of Hanoi, but to other dioceses as well calling all clergy and faithful to participate in the request for the return of 42 Pho Nha Chung, and to pray at 42 Pho Nha Chung which is also the headquarters of Cultural Department, Gymnastics and Sports Center of Hoan Kiem disitrict. On the eve of December 18, 2007 and the remaining days of December 2007, the Archbishop’s Office has called on parishioners to hold prayer vigils and place the statue of the Virgin Mary at 42 Pho Nha Chung after masses. After Christmas Mass, some clergies and parishioners came, prayed, and placed the Holy Cross at 42 Pho Nha Chung. They also distributed flyers that have information distorting the government. In recent days, the Archbishop’s Office has continued to organize activities gathering a large crowd of parishioners and clergy to pray in front of the gate of 42 Pho Nha Chung disrupting the public traffic safety and order
(2) On the Side of Thai Ha Parish:
Thai Ha Parish has violated the laws on land, construction and public traffic order. Thai Ha Parish has gathered parishioners and let them willingly transgress the land that is under the co-management of Hanoi Electricity Company and Joint-Stock Cement Materials and Transportation Company within Quang Trung ward. They willingly knocked down the walls without permission, and built an exit at alley 49 which was adjacent to 64 Nguyen Luong Bang of O Cho Dua ward. Thai Ha Parish has let some parishioners to topple the barricade wall, and to sabotage the property of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company on the night of January 5, 2008. From January 6th, 2008 until now Thai Ha Parish continues to let her parishioners and clergy hang dozens of Virgin Mary pictures and the Holy Cross on the guard fence of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company, and gather to pray outside of their worshipping place disrupting public traffic safety and order.
(3) On the Side of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company:
Leaders of Hanoi City directly warned and requested the company to seriously accept the city guidance on issues relating to land ownership, the use of land, and the construction order.
Although representative from local government has worked directly, and recently sent a Letter to the Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, Rev. Trinh Ngoc Hien, and other clergy, the above-mentioned activities continue. This situation has caused public disorder; brought adverse effect on good and cooperative relations among Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Archbishop’s Office and the local government; created opportunities for dissidents to ignite, distort, propagandize, and sow divisions between the laity and local government; rifted the good image of Catholicism within the community; and affected the ongoing relations that are being improved between Vietnam and the Vatican.
The above-mentioned activities violated Article 11, No. 2 of the Ordinance on Religious Belief dated June 29, 2004 of Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and Article 26 of Decree No. 22/2005/ND-CP of the Government dated March 1, 2005 which provided guidance on how to carry out some articles of the Ordinance on Religious Belief related to Laws on Land and Construction. This has caused some concerns on public and the laity population in the area as well.
The People’s Committee of Hanoi delegated this matter to Hoan Kiem and Dong Da districts, sent correspondence, criticized the above-mentioned wrongdoings, and suggested the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops to direct and ask the Archbishop’s Office and Thai Ha Parish to immediately stop all activities that violate the law, and regulations of religious activities, at the same time quickly restore, and return to the original state, have Virgin Mary statue and the Holy Cross removed from 42 Pho Nha Chung, extricate the unpermitted construction area on the land of Hanoi Electricity Company and Joint-Stock Cement Materials and Transportation Company, have Virgin Mary statue and the Holy Cross removed from the guard fence of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company, and if these violations continue, they will be executed by laws.
Regarding the land ownership at 42 Pho Nha Chung, the People Committee of Hanoi City is considering and suggesting the government to settle the issue reasonably, quickly and thoroughly in accordance with the laws and regulations.
As far as the complaint petition of Rev. Trinh Ngoc Hien and other clergy is concerned, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City has replied with written correspondence No. 122/UBND-DCNN, dated January 8, 2008. The People’s Committee of Hanoi City also decided to set up an interdisciplinary delegation of inspectors to inspect the management and the use of land, construction and public traffic order of this area as regulated by the laws. In case of any violation committed by Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company is founded, stiff punishment will be imposed. The People’s Committee of Hanoi City will keep you posted on this issue.
As related to the inauguration ceremony of 7-story Chapel of Thai Ha Parish, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City asks Rev. Trinh Ngoc Hien to comply with the laws on practicing thrift, especially not gather a large crowd of parishioners which disrupt public traffic and safety order in the area.
We reckon the above-mentioned violations must be quickly stopped. The execution of the laws and the cooperation among the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops, the Archbishop’s Office, Thai Ha Parish and the local government will make favorable condition for Hanoi City to ask the government to solve the land dispute at 42 Pho Nha Chung, to look into several suggestions given by Thai Ha Parish, and other matters that affect the relations among the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops, the Archbishop’s Office, local government at different levels, and the capital citizens. This will continuously contribute to the relation which is being improved between Vietnam and the Vatican.
Once again, our best regards to the President of the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops and the Archbishop of Hanoi!
On behalf of the People’s Committee
For the President
Vice-President
(Signed and Sealed)
Ngo Thi Thanh Hang
C/c to:
- Government Office;
- Departments: CT, XD, CA, NG;
- Government Committee of Religion;
- TTTU, HDND TP
- Comrade President of the People’s Committee of the City;
- Comrades Vice-President of the People’s Committee of the City;
- UBMTTQ TP;
- CATP, TG TP Section, TNMT & ND Department;
- People’s District Committee of Hoan Kiem & Dong Da;
- Mr. Trinh Ngoc Hien at 180/2 Nguyen Luong Bang Avenue, Dong Da (for Reference);
- CPVP, VX, NN, TH;
- Record VT.
People's Committee
Hanoi City
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Independence-Freedom-Happiness
No.: 273/UBND-VX
Re: Violation of Hanoi Archbishop's Office and Thai Ha Parish
Hanoi - January 11, 2008
To: Your Excellency Nguyen Van Nhon - President of Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops
Your Excellency Ngo Quang Kiet - Archbishop of Hanoi
Best greetings to you all from the People’s Committee of Hanoi City!
Over the past few years, Hanoi City always shows its concern and makes favorable condition for the activities of the laity and the Archbishop’s office within the diocese of Hanoi. Such activities as: the welcoming ceremony of Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe – the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples - on his visit to the Church here in Vietnam; the ordination mass for clergies at the Archbishop’s Office; the annual Christmas mass celebration; other solemn masses in the pastoral agenda of the Conference of Catholic Bishops; and recently the 10th Meeting of the Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops. The latter was very successful and we highly appreciated the participation of clergy and the laity in all activities of the city.
Until recently, we regret, however, that the Hanoi Archbishop’s Office and Thai Ha Parish have specifically abused their religion and belief via the laity by violating against the law on religious activities as follows:
(1) On the Side of Hanoi Archbishop’s Office:
On December 15, 2007, the Archbishop not only sent a Letter to all parishes within the diocese of Hanoi, but to other dioceses as well calling all clergy and faithful to participate in the request for the return of 42 Pho Nha Chung, and to pray at 42 Pho Nha Chung which is also the headquarters of Cultural Department, Gymnastics and Sports Center of Hoan Kiem disitrict. On the eve of December 18, 2007 and the remaining days of December 2007, the Archbishop’s Office has called on parishioners to hold prayer vigils and place the statue of the Virgin Mary at 42 Pho Nha Chung after masses. After Christmas Mass, some clergies and parishioners came, prayed, and placed the Holy Cross at 42 Pho Nha Chung. They also distributed flyers that have information distorting the government. In recent days, the Archbishop’s Office has continued to organize activities gathering a large crowd of parishioners and clergy to pray in front of the gate of 42 Pho Nha Chung disrupting the public traffic safety and order
(2) On the Side of Thai Ha Parish:
Thai Ha Parish has violated the laws on land, construction and public traffic order. Thai Ha Parish has gathered parishioners and let them willingly transgress the land that is under the co-management of Hanoi Electricity Company and Joint-Stock Cement Materials and Transportation Company within Quang Trung ward. They willingly knocked down the walls without permission, and built an exit at alley 49 which was adjacent to 64 Nguyen Luong Bang of O Cho Dua ward. Thai Ha Parish has let some parishioners to topple the barricade wall, and to sabotage the property of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company on the night of January 5, 2008. From January 6th, 2008 until now Thai Ha Parish continues to let her parishioners and clergy hang dozens of Virgin Mary pictures and the Holy Cross on the guard fence of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company, and gather to pray outside of their worshipping place disrupting public traffic safety and order.
(3) On the Side of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company:
Leaders of Hanoi City directly warned and requested the company to seriously accept the city guidance on issues relating to land ownership, the use of land, and the construction order.
Although representative from local government has worked directly, and recently sent a Letter to the Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, Rev. Trinh Ngoc Hien, and other clergy, the above-mentioned activities continue. This situation has caused public disorder; brought adverse effect on good and cooperative relations among Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Archbishop’s Office and the local government; created opportunities for dissidents to ignite, distort, propagandize, and sow divisions between the laity and local government; rifted the good image of Catholicism within the community; and affected the ongoing relations that are being improved between Vietnam and the Vatican.
The above-mentioned activities violated Article 11, No. 2 of the Ordinance on Religious Belief dated June 29, 2004 of Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and Article 26 of Decree No. 22/2005/ND-CP of the Government dated March 1, 2005 which provided guidance on how to carry out some articles of the Ordinance on Religious Belief related to Laws on Land and Construction. This has caused some concerns on public and the laity population in the area as well.
The People’s Committee of Hanoi delegated this matter to Hoan Kiem and Dong Da districts, sent correspondence, criticized the above-mentioned wrongdoings, and suggested the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops to direct and ask the Archbishop’s Office and Thai Ha Parish to immediately stop all activities that violate the law, and regulations of religious activities, at the same time quickly restore, and return to the original state, have Virgin Mary statue and the Holy Cross removed from 42 Pho Nha Chung, extricate the unpermitted construction area on the land of Hanoi Electricity Company and Joint-Stock Cement Materials and Transportation Company, have Virgin Mary statue and the Holy Cross removed from the guard fence of Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company, and if these violations continue, they will be executed by laws.
Regarding the land ownership at 42 Pho Nha Chung, the People Committee of Hanoi City is considering and suggesting the government to settle the issue reasonably, quickly and thoroughly in accordance with the laws and regulations.
As far as the complaint petition of Rev. Trinh Ngoc Hien and other clergy is concerned, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City has replied with written correspondence No. 122/UBND-DCNN, dated January 8, 2008. The People’s Committee of Hanoi City also decided to set up an interdisciplinary delegation of inspectors to inspect the management and the use of land, construction and public traffic order of this area as regulated by the laws. In case of any violation committed by Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company is founded, stiff punishment will be imposed. The People’s Committee of Hanoi City will keep you posted on this issue.
As related to the inauguration ceremony of 7-story Chapel of Thai Ha Parish, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City asks Rev. Trinh Ngoc Hien to comply with the laws on practicing thrift, especially not gather a large crowd of parishioners which disrupt public traffic and safety order in the area.
We reckon the above-mentioned violations must be quickly stopped. The execution of the laws and the cooperation among the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops, the Archbishop’s Office, Thai Ha Parish and the local government will make favorable condition for Hanoi City to ask the government to solve the land dispute at 42 Pho Nha Chung, to look into several suggestions given by Thai Ha Parish, and other matters that affect the relations among the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops, the Archbishop’s Office, local government at different levels, and the capital citizens. This will continuously contribute to the relation which is being improved between Vietnam and the Vatican.
Once again, our best regards to the President of the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops and the Archbishop of Hanoi!
On behalf of the People’s Committee
For the President
Vice-President
(Signed and Sealed)
Ngo Thi Thanh Hang
C/c to:
- Government Office;
- Departments: CT, XD, CA, NG;
- Government Committee of Religion;
- TTTU, HDND TP
- Comrade President of the People’s Committee of the City;
- Comrades Vice-President of the People’s Committee of the City;
- UBMTTQ TP;
- CATP, TG TP Section, TNMT & ND Department;
- People’s District Committee of Hoan Kiem & Dong Da;
- Mr. Trinh Ngoc Hien at 180/2 Nguyen Luong Bang Avenue, Dong Da (for Reference);
- CPVP, VX, NN, TH;
- Record VT.