Official Responded Document from the Archbishop's Office to the People's Committee of Hanoi
Below is the equivalent English translation of the original Vietnamese version of the said Document …
The Archbishop's Office of Hanoi
No. 08-VP/TGM 003
Re: Responding to the Official Document Receipt from the People's Committee of Hanoi City dated January 14, 2008
For the Attention of: Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang
Vice-President of the People's Committee of Hanoi City
We are totally in shock with your bias towards the argument and way to act as authority upon receipt of your correspondence No. 273/UBND-VX dated January 11, 2008.
Appropriate authorities have been biased against those who are being violated by keeping silent on their legitimate complaints. The Archbishop’s Office and the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops have submitted so many written applications for many years from now requesting the restitution of the land of the Papal Nuncio's Office. This means this land is under dispute. As a result, no parties are allowed to build, or alter its original state without official decision. This year, however, the Papal Nuncio’s Office is continuously being violated when the temporary management agency allowed the construction of a noodle shop on its 2nd floor. Whichever agency issued the construction permit, that agency did the wrong thing. If the construction was done without a permit license, the worse this wrongdoing became. On December 4th, 2007 the Archbishop’s Office sent a letter to the government requesting the maintenance of the original state of the land. Unfortunately, this request went unanswered. Instead, the temporary management agency rudely allowed the remove of the main roof and floor in the main section of the Papal Nuncio’s Office. The Archbishop’s Office sent somebody to raise her objections, but this led to nowhere. On December 13th, 2007 official representative of the Archbishop’s Office sent a complaint petition. No consideration was rendered by the government. Instead, this temporary management agency even allowed and turned this land into a parking garage, which has been previously observed by both parties. This unacceptable behavior which rudely ignored public opinion, even though it gets the o.k. from government officials has deeply angered the people. This is why the laity has decided to come and pray for justice at the Papal Nuncio’s Office. The mistake was the obvious result from the biased view and silence of the appropriate authorities in solving the legitimate rights of the people and the government’s abetment for the wrongdoings of these violators.
Appropriate authorities have been biased in defending those who are violators. This was again repeated in the case of Thai Ha Parish. The Redemptorist Order has submitted application to request the restitution of the Order’s land which was fallowed by Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company over the past 10 years, but this went unanswered. Suddenly in early 2008, a barbed-wire fence was installed and the appearance of police forces onsite to protect for the construction of this company. The parishioners angered and then protested. On the evening of January 7th, 2008 local government assured them that no more construction was allowed and everything had to stop. Unfortunately like a cold water ladle that hit their faces in the morning of January 8, 2008, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City this time issued an official document that allowed Chien Thang Seaming Company to continue on with their construction project. The parishioners were indignant at injustice because the appropriate authorities broke their promises, ignored their sentiments, and rudely protected their violators by an official document. This is also why the parishioners continue to pray as they have nobody on this earth to rely upon.
Appropriate authorities have been biased in blaming responsibility of one side only. In addition to their silence on violations of the temporary management agency which runs the Papal Nuncio’s Office, and their rudely upholding for the violations of Chien Thang Seaming Company, now the appropriate authorities blame this responsibility on the laity which is beyond the limit. Smoke does not exist if there is no flame. Things get busted if injustice exists. As a matter of fact, the parishioners pray solemnly and peacefully without disrupting public order. No scream, no protest nor a word of objection to the government or a banner is seen and heard. They just purely pray. They pray because the government has been biased against them.
Thus, I request you, Mrs. Vice-President, to carefully look into this matter and solve this thoroughly. Biased actions only make people feel more pressing and loose confidence in the government. This is why it led to the current situation. If you want to solve the matter, you must start from the root, not the edge. That root must be based on justice. We look forward and expect nothing from you but a justifiable solution so that people can live freely and happily.
On behalf of the Archbishop’s Office
Chief of Secretariat
(Signed and Sealed)
Rev. John Le Trong Cung
In c/c to:
- As Above
- Government Office
- Government Committee on Religion
- Police Department
- Central Committee’s Office
- MTTQ TU
- President of the People’s Committee of the City
- Police City Department
- People’s District Committee of Hoan Kiem
- Record
Below is the equivalent English translation of the original Vietnamese version of the said Document …
The Archbishop's Office of Hanoi
No. 08-VP/TGM 003
Re: Responding to the Official Document Receipt from the People's Committee of Hanoi City dated January 14, 2008
For the Attention of: Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang
Vice-President of the People's Committee of Hanoi City
We are totally in shock with your bias towards the argument and way to act as authority upon receipt of your correspondence No. 273/UBND-VX dated January 11, 2008.
Appropriate authorities have been biased against those who are being violated by keeping silent on their legitimate complaints. The Archbishop’s Office and the Vietnamese Council of Catholic Bishops have submitted so many written applications for many years from now requesting the restitution of the land of the Papal Nuncio's Office. This means this land is under dispute. As a result, no parties are allowed to build, or alter its original state without official decision. This year, however, the Papal Nuncio’s Office is continuously being violated when the temporary management agency allowed the construction of a noodle shop on its 2nd floor. Whichever agency issued the construction permit, that agency did the wrong thing. If the construction was done without a permit license, the worse this wrongdoing became. On December 4th, 2007 the Archbishop’s Office sent a letter to the government requesting the maintenance of the original state of the land. Unfortunately, this request went unanswered. Instead, the temporary management agency rudely allowed the remove of the main roof and floor in the main section of the Papal Nuncio’s Office. The Archbishop’s Office sent somebody to raise her objections, but this led to nowhere. On December 13th, 2007 official representative of the Archbishop’s Office sent a complaint petition. No consideration was rendered by the government. Instead, this temporary management agency even allowed and turned this land into a parking garage, which has been previously observed by both parties. This unacceptable behavior which rudely ignored public opinion, even though it gets the o.k. from government officials has deeply angered the people. This is why the laity has decided to come and pray for justice at the Papal Nuncio’s Office. The mistake was the obvious result from the biased view and silence of the appropriate authorities in solving the legitimate rights of the people and the government’s abetment for the wrongdoings of these violators.
Appropriate authorities have been biased in defending those who are violators. This was again repeated in the case of Thai Ha Parish. The Redemptorist Order has submitted application to request the restitution of the Order’s land which was fallowed by Chien Thang Joint-Stocked Seaming Company over the past 10 years, but this went unanswered. Suddenly in early 2008, a barbed-wire fence was installed and the appearance of police forces onsite to protect for the construction of this company. The parishioners angered and then protested. On the evening of January 7th, 2008 local government assured them that no more construction was allowed and everything had to stop. Unfortunately like a cold water ladle that hit their faces in the morning of January 8, 2008, the People’s Committee of Hanoi City this time issued an official document that allowed Chien Thang Seaming Company to continue on with their construction project. The parishioners were indignant at injustice because the appropriate authorities broke their promises, ignored their sentiments, and rudely protected their violators by an official document. This is also why the parishioners continue to pray as they have nobody on this earth to rely upon.
Appropriate authorities have been biased in blaming responsibility of one side only. In addition to their silence on violations of the temporary management agency which runs the Papal Nuncio’s Office, and their rudely upholding for the violations of Chien Thang Seaming Company, now the appropriate authorities blame this responsibility on the laity which is beyond the limit. Smoke does not exist if there is no flame. Things get busted if injustice exists. As a matter of fact, the parishioners pray solemnly and peacefully without disrupting public order. No scream, no protest nor a word of objection to the government or a banner is seen and heard. They just purely pray. They pray because the government has been biased against them.
Thus, I request you, Mrs. Vice-President, to carefully look into this matter and solve this thoroughly. Biased actions only make people feel more pressing and loose confidence in the government. This is why it led to the current situation. If you want to solve the matter, you must start from the root, not the edge. That root must be based on justice. We look forward and expect nothing from you but a justifiable solution so that people can live freely and happily.
On behalf of the Archbishop’s Office
Chief of Secretariat
(Signed and Sealed)
Rev. John Le Trong Cung
In c/c to:
- As Above
- Government Office
- Government Committee on Religion
- Police Department
- Central Committee’s Office
- MTTQ TU
- President of the People’s Committee of the City
- Police City Department
- People’s District Committee of Hoan Kiem
- Record