Local government delivered an ultimatum for Hanoi Archbishop’s Office ordering that sit-in protesters must leave the ground of the old building of the apostolic delegation, and that the cross erected on Friday and all the statues must be removed. The deadline was set at 5 pm on Sunday 27 January.
During the Friday clash with police, Hanoi Catholics took control the building for a while – long enough to put up a large cross in the garden. That cross “must be removed”, said the ultimatum.
On their first vigil at the site, just before Christmas, Hanoi Catholics wheeled a Pieta Virgin Mary statue from St. Joseph’s Cathedral to the building where it had once been located before the communists illegally seized the building. That statue “must be removed” as well, the ultimatum emphasised.
Despite cold rain, strong warnings and many other threatening gestures from security forces, Hanoi Catholics have been holding sit-in protests on the garden of the building since Friday. These people “must leave the ground of the building”, the ultimatum ordered.
During Saturday, government sent some officials to the site to persuade demonstrators to leave there, but to no avail.
Along with the ultimatum, some army and security units have been deployed hinting a crackdown is likely.
In weekend Masses, the Catholic community has been informed about the ultimatum, and urged to be united in prayer that God may bless, strengthen and guide them in the fight for justice. This indicates that Hanoi Catholics defy the ultimatum and continue protests.
During the Friday clash with police, Hanoi Catholics took control the building for a while – long enough to put up a large cross in the garden. That cross “must be removed”, said the ultimatum.
On their first vigil at the site, just before Christmas, Hanoi Catholics wheeled a Pieta Virgin Mary statue from St. Joseph’s Cathedral to the building where it had once been located before the communists illegally seized the building. That statue “must be removed” as well, the ultimatum emphasised.
Despite cold rain, strong warnings and many other threatening gestures from security forces, Hanoi Catholics have been holding sit-in protests on the garden of the building since Friday. These people “must leave the ground of the building”, the ultimatum ordered.
During Saturday, government sent some officials to the site to persuade demonstrators to leave there, but to no avail.
Along with the ultimatum, some army and security units have been deployed hinting a crackdown is likely.
In weekend Masses, the Catholic community has been informed about the ultimatum, and urged to be united in prayer that God may bless, strengthen and guide them in the fight for justice. This indicates that Hanoi Catholics defy the ultimatum and continue protests.