Vietnam: Information on the teachings of the Hoa Hao (Hoa Hoa) sect of Buddhism and treatment of its followers by the authorities

In her 13 February 2001 statement at a Hearing on Violations of Religious Freedom in Vietnam of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a Vietnamese journalist and editor of several Hoa Hao publications, Mrs. Huynh Mai Nguyen, stated that:

Hoa Hao Buddhism was founded in 1939 by Prophet Huynh Phu So, at Hoa Hao village in An Giang province, South Vietnam.

Hoa Hao Buddhism practices the teachings of Buddha, but also places a strong emphasis on the following principles: first, to respect and serve your parents and ancestors; second, to serve the country; third to have faith in the religion; fourth, to serve humanity. Prophet Huynh emphasized reforms that would eliminate superstitions and superficial ceremonies and simplify the methods of worship.

Moreover, the idea of serving society and the country had a special appeal to every social class in Southern Vietnam during that period, when Vietnamese people were suffering under the French goverment. Consequently, in just a few years the number of believers increased at a tremendous rate to over 2 million - and the number has kept on increasing until today.

On the treatment of the followers of Hoa Hao sect of Buddhism, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report 2001 states that in 2000:

Members of the Hoa Hao sect of Buddhism came under increased pressure, with at least twelve in detention or prison as of mid-2000. Sect elder Le Quang Liem's telephone line was disconnected in December 1999 and he was interrogated several times by police after he signed a joint appeal calling for greater religious freedom. Surveillance of Liem increased in February 2000, when he announced the restoration of the Central Hoa Hao Buddhist Association, separate from a government-dominated Hoa Hao committee established in 1999. Hoa Hao members in An Giang province clashed several times with police, who reportedly blocked a pilgrimage to their prophet's birthplace, and detained and beat some adherents in December 1999. Police arrested at least eight Hoa Hao members in March 2000 as tensions increased prior to a religious anniversary. On March 30, police detained ten Hoa Hao members and blocked thousands of other followers from observing the religious anniversary. Additional clashes with security forces broke out in An Giang in September, when Hoa Hao followers protested the trial and conviction of five members arrested in March (15 Dec. 2000).

The spring 2001 issue of International Religious Freedom Report, published by the International Coalition for Religious Freedom, states that:

A 75 year old Buddhist woman committed suicide by publicly setting herself on fire in late March with the last words, "Religious freedom for Viet Nam!" Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu, who was head of the women's association of the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect, made the ultimate political statement in front of several hundred Hoa Hao followers in Tan Hoi village in the Mekong Delta. The Hoa Hao sect has several million adherents in Viet Nam and is officially recognized by the communist regime albeit suspiciously due to the sect's armed opposition to communism during the Viet Nam war. The self-immolation came shortly after the detention of the Hoa Hao sect leader Le Quang Liem, 82, his deputy, and several supporters. Liem's arrest came only two weeks after he joined three other religious leaders, two Buddhists and two Catholics, to form the Vietnam Interfaith Council to promote religious freedom. One of the four was Father Tadeus Nguyen Van Ly who was arrested earlier in March for urging the US Congress not to ratify a trade pact with Vietnam.

In her statement to the hearing on Violations of Religious Freedom in Vietnam held at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Mrs. Huynh Mai Nguyen further stated that:

Today, Hoa Hao Buddhists are in constant danger with no prospect of relief. They continually have difficulty in obtaining permits that would allow them to visit or spend the night at Hoa Hao village. They are still not allowed to participate in some religious activities and some major ceremonies are still banned. For example, the ceremony to commemorate the disappearance of Prophet Huynh was not permitted to be publicly organized, the display of the Hoa Hao Buddhist flag was prohibited, and Prophet Huynh's written teachings were edited and reduced to only about 30% of their original volume.

In July 1999, the Vietnamese government granted permission to the assigned HHB Representatives to its hand-picked representatives to organize a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of HH Buddhism. This was the first time such a commemoration had been permitted in 24 years of Communist rule. The local Communist authorities expected 150,000 persons, but the event drew more than 1 million of the faithful to HH Holy Land. In trying to discourage HHB from gathering to HH Holy Land, the Communist government has increased the harassment and arbitrary arrests, and it has sentenced several HHB believers who had asked for religious freedom. At least 15 HHB were imprisoned because of their faith and religious practice. Three HHB (Liem, Hoang, and Diem) were tried in Thoai Son district Court in May, 2000; five others (Thuc, Lang, Huon, Cao, and Nhuom) in An Giang Court on Sept. 26, 2000; and Ha Hai at Cho Moi Court on Jan. 15, 2001. All three trials were closed to the public.

On Dec. 7, 2000, local police used electric whips to beat a group of HHBs who were conducting a peaceful demonstration in front of Cho Moi prison, An Giang province, to protest Ha Hai's arrest and to ask for religious freedom. Many women fainted and were wounded in this event. In many arrests, the police wore plainclothes or hired gang members to attack HHBs. HHBs were arrested while the government did not punish the instigators of the attacks.

There are 3 recent compelling cases:

a) Mr. Truong Van Thuc was arrested at the Ancestral Temple with eight other HHBs when they were preparing for the Prophet's Birthday celebration on Dec 26, 1999. He was re arrested in March 28, 2000, because he and 28 other HHBs had appealed to the Supreme Court in Hanoi and the Communist Government citing the harassment by the public security police and request a resolution of the situation. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison on charges of "defaming the government" and "abusing democracy".

b) Mr. Nguyen Chau Lang was arrested at Hoa Hao village on March 28, 2000 because he had signed the same appeal and had filed a complaint against the beatings and arrests at Thoai Son Hamlet of several HHBs by public security police officers at a religious ceremony commemorating the death of a member's father. Like Mr. Thuc, he was also sentenced to 3 years in prison for the same charges.

c) Mr. Ha Hai was arrested on November 16, 2000, in the Eighth District of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) on the eve of President Clinton's visit to Vietnam. He was another signer of the appeal against police harassment. He was on hunger strike for one month in Cho Moi prison, An Giang. On Jan. 15, 2001, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison for "violating house arrest regulations" and "abusing democratic rights."

An 18 May 2001 AFP report states that two Hoa Hao Buddhists, Truong Van Duc and Ho Van Trong, were sentenced in May 2001 by a court of the province of An Giang to 12 and 4 years respectively for "disturbing the public order and opposing state policy in the southern province of An Giang." According to the report, both had been accused of participating in demonstrations in the village of Phu My where several policemen were attacked as they sought to restore order.

No further and more recent information on the situation of Hoa Hao sect of Buddhism followers could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 18 May 2001. Two Buddhist Dissidents Jailed in Vietnam." (FBIS-EAS-2001-0518 18 May 2001)

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 15 December 2000. Human Rights Watch World Report 2001 – Vietnam. [Accessed 26 Sept. 2001]

International Religious Freedom Report. Spring 2001. Vol. 3, No.1. Rick Hunter. "Religious Freedom Around the World – Vietnam." International Coalition for religious Freedom. [Accessed 21 September 2001]

US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Hearing on Violations of Religious Freedom in Vietnam, Statement of Mrs. Huynh Mai Nguyen.13 February 2001. "Vietnam Increasingly Represses Hoa Hao Buddhist Freedom." Hoa Hao Buddhist Association. [Accessed 21 Sept. 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Internet sources including:

Hoa Hao Buddhism

Human Rights Without Borders (HRWB)

Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist Association

World News Connection (WNC)

Search Engine:

Google