From: vinsight@netcom.com (Vietnam Insight)
Subject: VI: Buddhist conference in support of freedom movement
Originator: daemon@media-lab.media.mit.edu
Reply-To: vinsight@netcom.com
Organization: SCV Relay
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 20:19:49 GMT



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BUDDHIST CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM MOVEMENT
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SAN JOSE, California - USA: 300 delegate members of 96 Vietnamese
Buddhist churches worldwide and 76 monks met with thousands of other
Vietnamese, including non-Buddhists, in one of the most exciting 3-day
religious conference and event here. The event took place September
25-27, 1992, in a packed Civic Auditorium of nearly 2000.

The conference's purpose was to unify overseas Buddhist sects in a
concerted effort to support the popular movement for religious freedom
at home.

At least five Buddhist monks in Vietnam have threatened to immolate for
the cause since the movement, simmering since 1976 when Hanoi's wave of
arrests and violation of religious freedom shook the country, broke
out in May this year. The Vietnamese communist government wanted to take
charge of the funeral service for the Most Venerable Thich Don Hau
against his last wish, but retreated when confronted with fierce protest
from the Buddhist community. The incident, like the last straw on the
camel's back, has ignited the national movement that united many
Vietnam's religions for the cause.

The Venerable Thich Vien Ly, general secretary of the newly formed
Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Church - United States chapter,
condemned Hanoi's harassment of religious leaders and laymen,
jailing over 400 monks and torturing several others to death. The most
recent evidence of Hanoi's brutality was its beating death of the Ven.
Thich Thien An while in police custody;  yet they blatantly lied about
how he died, listing a high fall as the cause of his death.

The Ven. Thich Huyen Quang, charge d'affaires of Vietnam Unified Buddhist
Church and a detainee for years, led the first open challenge to the
authority by sending a Nine-point Demand to the communist government,
and called on Vietnamese Buddhist communities at home and abroad to
stand up for their rights.

The Venerable's courage has received overwhelming supports from both
Vietnamese at home and abroad, leading to a rising political activities
in what often is apolitical religious community. This 3-day event is a
culmination of the overseas response to organize and plan efforts to
push forth the freedom movement.

The conference was concluded with the announcement of its completing the
primary objective of forming the Overseas Unified Buddhist Church to
take part in a historical move at the call of the nation.

STATE SIGNS REMOVED FROM PAGODAS:

In a general protest move against the Vietnamese communist authorities,
most state signs at pagodas throughout Vietnam have been replaced by the
Vietnam Buddhist Church signs, according news from Vietnam.

Public security police were dispatched to reinforce the government's
signs but no order was followed through on. As soon as the police turned
their back, the state signs were removed.

State-appointed priests and monks in Vietnam also received a flood of
letters from the public asking for their resignations, leading to
en-mass resignations of members of the State Congregation recently.


-- 
Vietnam Insight (vinsight@netcom.com)
Chan Tran, editor
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese