Religious dignitaries give comments on the Draft Constitution Amendment

On January 30, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs held a workshop to collect opinions from dignitaries and monks from a number of religious organizations on the Draft Amendment to the 1992 Constitution.

(Photo: Hoang Anh Tuan/Vietnam+)

At the workshop, most opinions agreed that amending the 1992 Constitution is necessary to meet the current socio-economic development needs of the country as well as in the context of international integration.

Basically agreeing with the amendments proposed in the Draft Amendment to the 1992 Constitution, Venerable Hue Thong, Office 2 of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, said: Article 2 of the draft needs to be clarified and assigned more specifically: the National Assembly is the legislative body, the Government is the executive body, the Court is the trial body, and the Procuracy is the prosecutor's body.

Referring to Article 25, which has content related to the field of religious beliefs, many delegates suggested that the amended Constitution should be more clearly defined. Specifically, in Clause 1, Article 25 should add “no one has the right to be forced to follow or not to follow a religion. Religions are equal before the law;” Clause 2, Article 25 should add “… no one has the right to offend the beliefs, ideals, and teachings of legally operating religions.”

Regarding Article 25, according to Venerable Hue Thong, the Draft should add the following content: The State creates conditions for religious organizations to operate in accordance with the law, charters, and regulations of religions that have been permitted by the State according to law; creates conditions for religious organizations to participate in socialized education, health, and charity programs;” “… Religious organizations are members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front."

Assessing the progress of the Draft Amendment to the 1992 Constitution, Father Ha Van Minh, Phu Cuong Diocese, Binh Duong, said that Articles 11 and 48 related to the issue of protecting the Fatherland are very important.

However, the draft only mentions military service and participation in building national defense, but does not mention the people's right to contribute opinions to protect the Fatherland when the Fatherland is at risk of invasion.

Regarding Article 40, according to priest Ha Van Minh, the Constitution should clarify the issue of child care and education. The educational philosophy must be clearly defined; education is not only about knowledge but must also include education about human dignity, human rights, and civil rights./.

According to (TTXVN) - LT