HANOI - Police in Vietnam have begun using plainclothed gangs to break up peaceful protests by Catholics parishioners of Ke Mui, Huong Son, and Ha Tinh, calling for the return of properties confiscated during the 1950s.
Earlier this month, after a series of petitions for the return of their parish land went unanswered, hundreds of parishioners gathered in front of the People's Committee of Huong Son District asking to discuss the issue with officials. During the meeting, parish leaders were told that the local government owned the land in dispute and that the government would only return it to the Church if paid a huge amount of money.
Parishioners refused to settle the issue that way and continued to protest. The next day, several groups of gangs were brought to the site in police trucks and proceeded to attack the protestors. Parishioners were beaten and chased away. Despite that, they returned the following day to make a silent sit-in protest. Again, street gangs were called to smash the protest.
In the face of this violence, Catholic activists called off their protests. As they they left they were chased by gangs on motorbikes. One woman was kit by a motorcycle and suffered broken ribs.
JB An Dang
Earlier this month, after a series of petitions for the return of their parish land went unanswered, hundreds of parishioners gathered in front of the People's Committee of Huong Son District asking to discuss the issue with officials. During the meeting, parish leaders were told that the local government owned the land in dispute and that the government would only return it to the Church if paid a huge amount of money.
Parishioners refused to settle the issue that way and continued to protest. The next day, several groups of gangs were brought to the site in police trucks and proceeded to attack the protestors. Parishioners were beaten and chased away. Despite that, they returned the following day to make a silent sit-in protest. Again, street gangs were called to smash the protest.
In the face of this violence, Catholic activists called off their protests. As they they left they were chased by gangs on motorbikes. One woman was kit by a motorcycle and suffered broken ribs.
JB An Dang