Secret Police Infiltrate Buddhist Clergy, says Press Release

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International Buddhist Information Bureau
Director : M. Vo Van Ai
25 rue Jaffeux, 92230 Gennevilliers, France
tel. 33 1 47 93 10 81
fax 33 1 47 91 41 38
e-mail : 100302.3100@compuserve.com
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For Immediate Release
February 13 1998

Underground Buddhist movement denounces infiltration of 3,000 Security Police into Buddhist clergy and protests Government ban on alms-begging - Patriarch of State-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Church criticises Security Police and the Board of Religious Affairs for arrogance and power abuse.

On behalf of the «Buddhist Sangha for the Protection of the Faith», an underground religious freedom movement of Buddhist monks and nuns belonging to the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), Venerable Thich Thien Khai has written an Open Letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai denouncing increased repression against Buddhists in Vietnam. A copy of this letter was sent clandestinely from Vietnam to the International Buddhist Information Bureau in Paris.

- Thich Thien Khai begins the Open Letter with a strong criticism of the Government Board of Religious Affairs : "The Board is in charge of all religions in Vietnam, yet it is made up entirely of Communist Party members who are atheists, and thus fundamentally opposed to religion. There are no religious specialists on the Board, nor representatives of the different religious confessions. How can such a body grasp the essence of religions and shape religious policies ? This explains why religious problems in Vietnam, particularly in regard to Buddhism, have remained unsolved for the past 20 year. In fact, antagonism between religions and the State continues to grow".

"In his address to the IV Congress of the [State-sponsored] Vietnam Buddhist Church in Hanoi in November 1997, the Head of the Board of Religious Affairs, Mr Le Quang Vinh announces : "I wish to clearly impress upon the Congress the irrevocable policy of the Party and the Government regarding Buddhism in Vietnam : the Vietnam Buddhist Church (VBC) is the only Buddhist organisation recognised by the State and entitled to the State's protection. Any individual of organisation acting in the name of Buddhism outside VBC structures or in violation of the VBC charter and statutes is illegal, and will be resolutely suppressed". Thich Thien Khai expressed deep concern over Mr Le Quang Vinh's statement, stressing that the true representative of Vietnamese Buddhist's 2000-year heritage is in fact the now-banned UBCV, whereas the State-sponsored VBC was set up only in 1981 as a political tool of the Vietnamese Communist Party : "The expression "resolutely suppressed" is the kind of terrorist language employed by Security Police, not by a Board of Religious Affairs in a country which respects the law. But this is not an empty threat. Indeed, it has already become a reality, for today some 3,000 Security Police have shaved their heads and dressed as monks and nuns to infiltrate Buddhist ranks and control religious affairs. They deliberately violate Buddhist precepts, eat meat, drink alcohol and philander with women in order to corrupt the monastic life of true Buddhist monks and nuns, and undermine the faith of Buddhist followers".

- The Open Letter described recent persecution against UBCV clergy and followers, and highlighted new restrictions on Buddhism introduced by the Board of Religious Affairs, i.e. therecent ban on alms-begging on monks and nuns of the Theravada school (1) : "It is a well-known fact that the practice of collecting alms dates back to the time of Buddha. It is not simply an act of "begging" for food, but a way of maintaining Buddhism in daily contact with the people, particularly the poor. The Bikkhus bring the people fields of merit and inspire them to lead a more moral life in order to prevent social degradation. Today, the Board of Religious Affairs has banned the alms-rounds of Theravada monks and nuns, ostensibly to prevent social disorders caused by street-beggars masquerading as monks, and to prepare for the tercentenary celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon).

"In practice, prohibiting alms-begging is tantamount to prohibiting the teaching of Buddhism. By issuing this ban, the Government is seeking to destroy the image of Buddhist monks and nuns as symbols of compassion in people's hearts. If there are social disorders in Saigon, they should be dealt with by law. As for the tercentennial celebrations, they should be animated by the city's rich diversity of cultural and spiritual components as a whole, not by the suppression of traditional activities such as the Bikkhus alms-rounds. In Thailand, Laos or Cambodia, the image of monks and nuns solemnly performing their alms-rounds each morning is a manifestation of goodness, righteousness and beauty which enhances the moral standing of these countries and attracts the admiration of Western tourists. How can the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which is so proud of its own achievements, adopt such destructive cultural policies?"

- According to Thich Thien Khai, repression against Buddhism in Vietnam has reached such proportions that even high dignitaries in the State-sponsored VBC are obliged to protest. His Open Letter to PM Phan Van Khai end with a quote of criticisms made by Venerable Thich Tam Tinh, new Patriarch of the State-sponsored VBC appointed in November 1997, to high ranking cadres in the Government Propaganda & Mobilisation Department and the fatherland Front who came to pay him their respects in the New Year : "[Party and Government] officials know nothing about [Buddhism], which is why religious activities in towns and provinces are beset with difficulty. Cadres in charge of religion are totally ignorant about religion. As a result, Buddhism is grossly misperceived and looked upon as a mere superstition. In many localities, cadres abuse their powers and are arrogant towards Buddhist monks and nuns".

"These are mild criticisms", concludes Thich Thien Khai, "but for we Buddhists, they are extremely serious. We suggest you read about these criticisms, Mr Prime Minister, in the New Year of the Tiger edition of "Dai Doan Ket" magazine, or that you come in person to talk to our UBCV Patriarch, the Very Venerable Thich Huyen Quang or Venerable Thich Quang Do, both of whom are under detention. Then will you understand the true feelings of your people".

(1) A previous ban on alms-begging was issued by the state- sponsored VBC in Ho Chi Minh City last year (see Vietnam Committee on Human Rights Press Statement, Geneva, March 21 1997). The present ban is issued by the Government, not only by the VBC.