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Vietnam: Government harassment documented
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John Henry
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Jun 22, 2007 07:03 PDT
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FAITH
UNDER FIRE
TEENAGERS DOCUMENT GOVERNMENT HARASSMENT
Visit to Vietnam results in DVD on persecution of
Christians
June 22, 2007
(c) 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
An attack on a Christian church in Vietnam,
part of the
documentation assembled by a team of teenagers investigating
persecution of Christians. (Voice of the Martyrs photo)
President Bush says he'll raise the issue of "the recent increase of
arrests and detentions of peaceful democracy activists" when
Vietnam's president, Nguyen Minh Triet, visits the White House this week
– persecution that now has been documented by a team of American
teenagers.
The teens visited Vietnam last year to capture on film interviews with
some of the Christians who are among the peaceful members of Vietnam's
population, but who still have been persecuted, and the evidence now is
available in a new DVD called "Underground Reality:
Vietnam."
The video is available from Voice of the Martyrs, which also provides
newsletter updates on the threats facing Christians in nations such
as Vietnam, where persecution still is rampant.
The White House announcement said Vietnam's president would be in
Washington today to continue discussions begun by the two presidents in
Hanoi last year.
"The United States and Vietnam have seen enormous progress in their
relationship over the past several years," the White House statement
said. The presidents are scheduled to discuss trade and the nations'
economic relationship, cooperation on health and development issues,
cultural and educational ties, and the goal of resolving any issues left
over from the war.
Bush also will "express his deep concern" over the arrests, and
"note that such actions will inevitable limit the growth of
bilateral ties."
Voice of the Martyrs said the eight teenagers, six Americans and two
from Australia, found out first-hand the impact of Vietnam's persecution
of Christians.
They interviewed a pastor whose house church repeatedly has been torn
down by police, and they were forced to flee suddenly from a Christian
youth camp when police arrived on the scene.
"The president of Vietnam calls evangelical Christians law-breakers
and says they should be punished," says Todd Nettleton, spokesman
for
Voice of the Martyrs. "But the reality is these are simply
Christians who want the freedom to worship God according to their
conscience. They love their country; they pray for their government
leaders. These aren't trouble-makers or rebels, yet they are arrested,
beaten and imprisoned. We've received a list of more than 100 Christians
currently held in Vietnamese prisons."
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom listed
Vietnam in its May 2007 report as a "Country of Particular
Concern" for its oppression of religion freedoms.
The DVD shows one teen interviewing a young girl who had been abused by
Vietnamese police, and the group met with the children of a Vietnamese
pastor who has spent years under house arrest because of his Christian
activities. A face-to-face interview with a formerly-imprisoned pastor
was a highlight for some of the teens.
"We talk a lot today about reality TV," says Nettleton.
"Well, this is the ultimate reality; the reality of life and death
for Christians in Vietnam. The reality of how much they are willing to
pay in order to live out their convictions and serve God in the way they
feel called to serve Him. What could be more real?
"We are pleased that Vietnam's president will be visiting the United
States," he said. "We call on leaders within the U.S.
government to ask President Nguyen hard questions about religious freedom
and the way our Christian brothers and sisters are being treated in
Vietnam. Good trade relations, and high profits aren't enough to ignore
the mistreatment of people of faith in Vietnam."
As WND has
reported, there still are ongoing reports from within Vietnam about the
martyrdom of Christians in that communist empire.
The death toll recently was reported to have risen by three. Two deaths
happened in recent weeks and the third was earlier, but because of
authorities' threats, it only was recently reported, according to
officials with
the Montagnard Foundation, which has written to Bush asking him to
raise the issue of persecution.
Source:
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56301
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"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them
which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."
(Hebrews 13:3)
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)
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