Socialist Republic of Vietnam

On October 29, the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, permanent deputy president of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's Executive Council and National Assembly (NA) deputy of the Hanoi constituency, spoke before the NA about the current situation of the Sangha. To shed light on his speech, Lao Dong (Labour) daily newspaper interviewed the Most Venerable on the sidelines of the NA. Following is the interview:

Q: How do you judge the Party and government's policies towards religion, including Buddhism?

A: The Party and government's policies towards religion, including Buddhism, are quite proper. It was not now but right after we seized power from the French colonialists, that President Ho Chi Minh issued an ordinance on religious affairs. I must note that it is not Vietnam alone but every country in the world that has a body in charge of religious affairs. In some countries, the responsible body can be a religious council. In Vietnam, the government's Committee for Religious Affairs functions to help religious congregations nationwide practise their religion.

Q: However, there are still a small number of Buddhist people using slander and lies against our religious policies. What are your opinions to this effect?

A: Regrettably, some people hide under the name of religion to distort the Vietnamese government's policy on this matter. Some Buddhist people, who are unhappy with our policy, have been manipulated by ill-willed people outside our country. Those who do not support our regime and do not want to see stability and development in our country, have used many methods to sabotage her. Buddhism has over the past 2,000 years followed the tenets of supporting the nation and reassuring the people. As early as the Dinh Tien Hoang Dynasty, there were bonzes who gloriously served the country. This tradition lived on in the Tran and Ly dynasties and especially since the August Revolution, their service to the nation has been very significant. However, there are people who have been unaware of this fact and incited by ill-willed people to act negatively.

Unifying all Buddhist sanghas into one organisation is an issue of paramount importance in compliance with the desire of generations of Buddhist monks, nuns and followers and has been done on a voluntary basis without any imposition from the government. Nine Buddhist organisations have voluntarily merged into one. There is no reason to have nine Buddhist organisations in one country. However, some have intentionally ignored this organisation. In my opinion, the root cause of this, is their being manipulated by ill-willed people.

Q: Has the State ever interfered in the Sangha's internal affairs?

A: Our regime differs from those in the past. The feudal and colonialist regimes adopted the policy of "divide and conquer." The smaller they divided an organisation the more easily they could rule.

Because our State's line highlights solidarity, the unification of Buddhist organisations is a proper decision. The Vietnamese government supports rather than interferes in the Sangha's internal affairs.

Q: What has the government done to facilitate the Sangha's operation?

A: Vietnam's Buddhism has a 2,000-year history and its two most prosperous periods were during the Ly and Tran dynasties. In my opinion, those periods were not really as prosperous as at present when Vietnam's Buddhism has peaked in its quantitative and qualitative development. All Buddhist places of worship have been restored, including those that were bombed during wars. The people's freedom to practise religion has been enhanced. The government has helped Buddhist and Catholic churches build training schools. How can a religious organisation develop if it does not train personnel?

Q: Certain foreigners have hidden under the name of Buddhism to speak ill of the Vietnamese State. They even threatened that they would request international organisations to break relations with Vietnam. What are your comments?

A: They cannot represent us because they have nothing to do with the domestic Buddhist congregation. I want to warn you that they have not only incited subversive actions inside the country but have also taken advantage of hostile forces outside the country. We must always stay alert.

Q: Of the six targets set out by the Sangha, what is the most important?

A: The Sangha's current targets are to disseminate Dharma, uphold the national unity, consolidate ideology, promote patriotism, and stay alert to distortions and attempts at manipulation by ill-willed forces. The Sangha is additionally working to train a younger generation fully aware of the schemes used to cause dissension and sabotage to the nation. (VNA)