CENTRAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATORS OF HOA HAO BUDDHIST CHURCH

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HOA HAO BUDDHIST MONK IS PUT UNDER HOUSE ARREST AFTER SERVING 8 YEARS IN PRISON

PRESS RELEASE

Le Minh Triet, a Hoa Hoa Buddhist monk, has been put under house arrest for two years after completing his eight-year term in prison K3 Z-30A, Xuan Loc, Thuan Hai province.  In his letter dated April 19, 2002 from Cho Moi, An Giang province, he wrote: “Destroying the worship places, sentencing religious believers: this is the unchanged policy of the Vietnamese Communist Regime.”

Prior to his imprisonment, Le Minh Triet resided at Kien Thanh Hamlet, Cho Moi district, An Giang province. In September 1993, New Horizon Radio Station ( Chan Troi Moi) broadcasting to Vietnam from Japan received letters seeking help from him and five other Hoa Hao Buddhists.  The letters were addressed to the United Nation, Human Rights Organizations and Hoa Hao Buddhist Church abroad.

According to the letter dated July 8, 1993, Le Minh Triet indicated that the Vietnamese government issued Order 25 on March 9, 1993 to demolish his house where he lived with his mother and his blind sister. The Government used the excuse that his home was a “meditating hut” and therefore, did not meet the construction code.

On March 17, 1993 the hamlet and district People’s Committees forced him to sign an admission to this violation, in a document that had been pre-written by these officials.  In protest, 42 people signed a petition to allow Triet from losing his home.  They sent the petition directly to the Central Committee in Hanoi.  Their petition was sent back to the local committees.  Subsequently, these 42 people were interrogated and threatened.

In a letter seeking help, dated June 30, 1993, Le Minh Triet stated: “On June 17, 1993, thirty heavily armed policemen forced their way into my home and pointed their guns at my family and ordered them to the ground.  My mother and my blind sister cowered down but when they raised their heads in protest, they were slapped on the mouth”.

Several young men in Triet’s neighborhood were coerced by heavily armed policemen to demolish his home.  They were informed that if they did not obey the police order, they would be fined 60,000 dong (Vietnamese dollars).  The people involved in the demolition of the home were photographed and recorded for evidence.

Triet’s home was completely demolished and all of his personal belongings were confiscated.  “My mother and my blind sister’s body were scratched and their mouths were swollen.”    

Currently, Mr. Triet is under house arrest at his brother’s house.  He no longer has a home of his own after being released from prison. 

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. Prophet Huynh encouraged his followers to practice Hoa Hao Buddhism at home.

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