From 13 to 17 May 2008, the Vietnamese government will host the 5th
United Nations’ Day of the Vesak in Hanoi. This should be a happy
occasion, a day to remember Buddha’s message of tolerance and peace, and to
inspire all people, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, to work together
towards mutual understanding and harmonious coexistence in our world.
However, we are deeply disturbed by recent reports of grave repressions
against Buddhism, the very faith Hanoi claims to celebrate. Only the State- sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, controlled by the Communist Party’s Fatherland Front, will attend the celebrations, while the
independent, tradi-tional Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) remains
banned and its leaders are prisoners in their own pagodas.
In the run-up to the Vesak, Police have seized UBCV pagodas to use for
State-sponsored events, evicted and harassed monks, nuns and
lay-followers in Lam Dong, Hue, Quang Tri and elsewhere. On 2 May 2008, the U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed deep concern on
“significant official harassment of monks, nuns and youth leaders
associated with the UBCV,” including the long-term house arrest of
Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, and his Deputy Thich Quang Do, a 2008 Nobel Peace
Prize nominee. Moreover, the Commission recommended that Vietnam be
re-designated in 2008 as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organization, non-permanent
member of the UN Security Council, and a signatory to key UN human rights
treaties. As such, you have a binding obligation to uphold
internationally-recognized freedoms and rights.
On the occasion of the UN Day of Vesak, we urge Hanoi to cease repression of the UBCV, to immediately release Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang and
Most Venerable Thich Quang Do and to restore the UBCV’s legitimate
status. Only by this gesture they will restore true significance to the UN
Day of the Vesak, and honor the 2000 year heritage of Buddhism in
Vietnam.
Marco Pannella, MEP Italy Radicals –ALDE, President of the Nonviolent
Radical Party
Graham Watson, MEP, UK Lib-Dem President of the ALDE Group at the
European Parliament
Emma Bonino, MP, Italy Vice President of the Senate, Radicals-
Democratic Party
Luisa Morgantini, MEP, Italy Communist, -United Left, Vice-President of
the European Parliament
Marco Cappato, MEP, Italy Radical – ALDE
Son Chhay, MP, Cambodia Sam Rainsy Party
Charles Tannock, MEP, UK, Tories -EPP
Luca Romagnoli, MEP, Italy - Non-attached Member
Kinga Gál, MEP Hungary EPP
Marco Perduca, MP, Radicals, Italy - Democratic Party
Matteo Mecacci, MP, Radicals, Italy - Democratic Party
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