Incidents in District Two, Ho Chi Minh City

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June 11, 2004

Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang was arrested by the security police in District 2 of Ho Chi Minh City on 8 June 2004, and is being interrogated on charges of "instigating and inciting others to interfere with officials doing their duty."

This follows the incident on 2 March 2004 when four young leaders of the Mennonite Church were arrested by the security police in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. The men are Nguyen Hieu Nghia, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Pham Ngoc Thach and Nguyen Van Phuong.

The incident took place near the home of Pastor Quang at C5/1H Tran Nao, To 5, Khu Pho 1, Phuong Binh Khanh, Quan 2, Ho Chi Minh City. Quang is a pastor in the Mennonite church, and is the General Secretary of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam. Christians meet in his home for fellowship, worship and training.

For several weeks prior to this date, Quang and other members of his church noticed that unknown people were watching his property, and observing his movements and the activities at his house. Several times these men threatened him and others. On March 2 one of Pastor Quang's assistants photographed the motorcycle of these men to report it to the officials of the local Binh Khanh precinct. The men charged after them, then left on their motorcycle. As they left the motorcycle fell. Mr. Pham Ngoc Thach and a Ms. Lien went to help the men who had fallen, but the men got off the ground and punched Ms. Lien in the chest and Mr. Thach in the face, then left.

One-half hour later a large number of security police from Binh Khanh precinct and Binh Thanh district arrived and accused the church people of "disturbing the peace." The uniformed police gave orders to men in civilian clothes to beat the men who had photographed the motorcycle. Pastor Quang and others were beaten and kicked. Mr. Nguyen Hieu Nghia, a deacon of the church, was severely beaten, then taken to the precinct police station. Mr. Nghia's brother, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Pham Ngoc Thach and Nguyen Van Phuong went to the police station to inquire about Nghia, and they were also detained. It is reported that Mr. Thach and Mr. Nhan were also badly beaten while in police custody.

Since that time, family and members of the church have asked about the men, and the Mennonite Church in Vietnam has asked for their release. Now more than three months later, the men have not been formally charged, the police have not allowed family members to visit the men, and police have not reported on the health of the four men.

We understand that government officials say that these arrests have nothing to do with religious freedom, and that the men criminally violated the law. We believe the men were arrested because they tried to help ethnic minorities and others. We ask that the men be immediately released with apologies, and that measures be taken to prevent such actions from occurring again.