FEB 2005 UPDATE ON RELIGIOUS ISSUES AND CENTRAL HIGHLAND

Fri, 02/04/2005 - 15:41

I. Religious freedom in Viet Nam in 2004

1. General policy: On June 18th, 2004, at the 19th session of the 11th National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly adopted the Ordinance on Belief and Religion, which came into effect on Nov. 15, 2004. The Ordinance and its implementing instructions have been circulated. A Decree providing explanation and instructions for the implementation of Ordinance has been drafted and is now in the process of seeking approval from the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister hosts Tet gathering for Viet Kieus

Sun, 01/30/2005 - 19:04

Vietnamese living abroad are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese community, the prime minister once again affirmed at Sunday’s get-together involving expatriates to celebrate the upcoming traditional Lunar New Year.

“Overseas Vietnamese (locally known as Viet Kieus) are Vietnam’s flesh and blood,” Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said in the year-end party at Reunification Hall with the participation of 600 expatriate Vietnamese, including vice president of the former Saigon regime Nguyen Cao Ky.

Amnesty recipients to receive job assistance: PM

Wed, 01/19/2005 - 18:00

Vietnam’s prime minister has recently asked local authorities to provide vocational training and jobs for amnesty beneficiaries in 2004 and 2005 in order to help them easily integrate back into society.
PM Phan Van Khai sent a note to provincial and municipal People's Committee leaders calling upon them to cooperate with the Fatherland Front and socio-economic organizations to lend a helping hand to amnesty recipients by providing loans and jobs.

Vietnam grants amnesty to over 8,000 inmates before Tet

Wed, 01/19/2005 - 17:59

Vietnam will soon grant amnesty to more than 8,200 qualified inmates so that they can enjoy the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

The amnesty beneficiaries are scheduled for release Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2005, according to the Department of Prison Management. This year’s Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 9.

As well, new criteria for inmates to qualify for amnesty have been added to encourage inmates to repair their damages, the department informed.

Agent Orange victim receives IT award

Mon, 01/10/2005 - 23:09

An Agent Orange victim recently received an honorary award at the “Vietnamese Intellectuals 2004” national IT contest.

Nguyen Chien Thang, author of the software “Positive Solutions for Network Security,” was granted the Nghi Luc (Perseverance) Award as a respectful acknowledgment of the Vietnamese IT community for the marvelous efforts of a young man who struggled valiantly to overcome his unfortunate destiny.

Swedish professor looks for truth about Vietnamese ethnic group

Mon, 01/10/2005 - 23:08

A Swedish professor has dedicated his time to researching the ethnic minority Katu group in Vietnam in a desire to help the world gain a truthful and sufficient understanding of the ethnic group.
Kaj Arhem is a renowned ethnographer and anthropology professor at the Goteborg University in Sweden. Some years ago, Mr. Arhem was motivated to study the Katu group after reading the book “Les Chasseurs de Sang” about the ethnic minority group at a U.S. library.

No Christmas arrests in Central Highlands

Mon, 01/10/2005 - 23:05

Vietnamese foreign ministry rejected a recent Human Rights Watch report, which said there were massive arrests of Protestants in the Central Highlands during Christmas 2004.

Christians all over the country, including those from ethnic minority groups in the region enjoyed a peaceful Christmas, said spokesperson Le Dzung Jan. 10 in response to a question raised by Agence France-Presse.

He confirmed that there were no cases of ethnic minority people in the region being detained or tortured.

Vietnamese community in US instrumental to VN- US relationship

Mon, 01/10/2005 - 23:04

The Vietnamese community in America is a vital bridge between Vietnam and the United States, asserted Ambassador Ton Nu Thi Ninh in an interview with Thanh Nien newspaper about her recent trip to the U.S.

Q: What was special about your latest diplomatic mission to the United States?

A: This trip was quite different from others because I visited 8 states and 12 cities across the United States. Also, I held extensive meetings with people at universities, research institutes, foundations, and the US media rather than just high-ranking U.S. officials and politicians.

Overseas Vietnamese welcomed for Lunar New Year

Mon, 01/10/2005 - 23:01

Vietnam is creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese living abroad to come back home and celebrate the country’s traditional lunar New Year, the Vietnam Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (COV) said.

The Committee said it will collaborate with the aviation, tourism, and customs departments to fulfill administrative procedures as quickly as possible to facilitate the return of expatriate Vietnamese.

Vietnam welcomes visit by int’l Buddhist delegation

Mon, 01/10/2005 - 23:00

The Vietnam Buddhist Church (VNBC) said it would do its best to facilitate the coming visit by renowned Monk Thich Nhat Hanh and an international delegation of Buddhist monks and nuns.
The Church will help the delegation witness with their own eyes the renewal process in Vietnam and the growth of the Buddhist church in the country, said Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, deputy head of the International Buddhism Board under the VNBC's Executive Council.

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