"Causing trouble" again?

LTS:As reported by Nghe An Newspaper, on October 23, Nghe An Provincial People's Court publicly tried the case of "Disturbing public order" against two defendants Ngo Van Khoi (born in 1960), residing in Hamlet 14 and Nguyen Van Hai (born in 1970), residing in Hamlet 11, Nghi Phuong Commune (Nghi Loc District, Nghe An Province).

The defendants were prosecuted under Points C and D, Clause 2, Article 245 of the Penal Code. At the trial, both defendants admitted to disturbing public order, expressed remorse, and asked for leniency from the law so that they could soon return to being useful citizens to society. Applying mitigating circumstances, according to the provisions of Vietnamese law, the Trial Panel sentenced Ngo Van Khoi to 7 months in prison and Nguyen Van Hai to 6 months in prison, the terms of imprisonment calculated from the date of temporary detention (June 27, 2013). This is a correct verdict for the right person and crime, demonstrating the strictness and leniency of Vietnamese law, and was highly appreciated by the majority of people following the trial.

However, “the tree wants to be still, but the wind does not stop”, on October 26, 2013, the Xa Doai Bishop’s Court issued Document No. 10/13-TG “protesting the unjust and unclear verdict of October 23, 2013 of the People’s Court of Nghe An province against Ngo Van Khoi and Nguyen Van Hai”. After this document, a number of reactionary websites at home and abroad “followed suit” in an attempt to distort the truth, deceive public opinion, and slander the government. As the media agency mentioned in the document, grasping the entire development of the incident and being present directly at the trial on October 23, Nghe An Newspaper realized that it had the responsibility to clarify the above truth, exposing the blatant slander and deception of public opinion by the Xa Doai Bishop’s Court.

Document No. 10/13 - TG, October 26, 2013 of Xa Doai Bishop's Office.

The opening of the document signed by Priest Nguyen Van Hieu - Chief of Office of the Xa Doai Bishop's Office, still used the familiar baseless accusations: "The way of doing is considered "a public trial and a correct verdict" for two parishioners of My Yen Parish on October 23, 2013 by the People's Court of Nghe An province did not surprise Vietnamese and international public opinion about the familiar way of ending the case of the authorities, which is to attribute all responsibility to innocent people to cover up the wrongdoings of the public authorities". Contrary to the argument in the document, at the trial, the two defendants Ngo Van Khoi and Nguyen Van Hai - those whom the Xa Doai Bishop's Office said were "assigned responsibility" admitted that on the evening of May 22, 2013, they had made statements calling for "smash, smash", "if caught, beat to death" to incite hundreds of people.Unreasonably detained and beat two Nghi Loc District Police officers, Tran Van Nhung and Nguyen Quoc Nhan, and an intern from the Security College, Nguyen Van Tien; vandalized the property of Mr. Dau Van Son, the Team Leader of Nghi Phuong Commune, causing chaos, traffic jams, and public disorder from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. on May 22, 2013 on Provincial Road 534, inter-commune roads from Hamlet 10 Nghi My to Hamlets 10, 12, 13 Nghi Phuong Commune (Nghi Loc).

Ngo Van Khoi admitted that even when Mr. Nhung claimed to be a Nghi Loc district police officer, Khoi still shouted "district police also beat" and lamented "just because of not thinking carefully, it led to the mistake like today". Both defendants expressed their deep remorse and hoped to receive leniency from the law. When given the last words before the court's deliberation, defendant Nguyen Van Hai choked up, "I have realized my wrongdoings. I ask the court to reduce my sentence so that I can return to my family soon". Ngo Van Khoi expressed, "Through today's trial, I clearly recognize my wrongdoings, I am very remorseful... at this moment, if I were living in a religious way, I would speak out to build a better society and church. I ask the court and the State to be lenient and reduce my sentence".

Previously, during his detention, defendant Hai sent letters to his family twice, "advising his family and relatives not to follow them and affect the law. Try to see both right and wrong" and promised "I will correct myself, never participate in such a foolish thing again". Ngo Van Khoi admitted that "it was a wrongdoing, the consequences were very serious and I regret it, it is a lesson for myself as well as for my children and grandchildren". At the same time, he sent a message to his wife, children and family "in words and actions, do not do things that are against the law".

Ironically, while the defendants were extremely remorseful for their wrongdoings, in prisonAs well as at the trial, all of them sincerely admitted their guilt and asked for forgiveness, but some "superiors" somewhere did not care about the thoughts, wishes and circumstances of the defendants, or "leisurely" sat in the Xa Doai Bishop's Palace to issue documents and statements that were not true. Also because some bishops and priests of the Xa Doai Bishop's Palace always considered themselves to be above the law, they did not understand or deliberately refused to understand the truth: compatriots, whether religious or not, are all citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, all have responsibilities and obligations before the law, properly implement the path of religious practice, live the gospel in the hearts of the people, strictly comply with the Party's policies and the State's laws. All acts of violating the law must be strictly handled according to the law to ensure discipline and the law of the country.

The fact that the People's Court of Nghe An province brought the case of Ngo Van Khoi and Nguyen Van Hai to public trial for the crime of "disturbing public order" not only had an effect on the criminals but also served as a warning bell and lesson for those who are still vague, listening to the incitement and enticement of bad people, leading to illegal acts, going against the interests of the nation, the good customs and traditions, and the morality of the Vietnamese people.

A trial was held publicly, following the procedures prescribed by Vietnamese law with the participation of many press agencies and people, and was publicly reported on the mass media for many days, but the Xa Doai Bishop's Court still made false and slanderous statements: "After meeting with the families and relatives of Mr. Ngo Van Khoi and Mr. Nguyen Van Hai at Trai Gao, the Xa Doai Bishop's Court confirmed that the prosecution agencies did not notify the families of the two men of the trial date of October 23, 2013. Although such notification was necessary to convince everyone, especially since the case is receiving special attention from the public because of many irregularities, while Nghe An Newspaper said that the verdict was public, transparent and "highly supported by the majority of people following the trial".

Regarding this issue, speaking with reporters, Lawyer Trong Hai - Head of Trong Hai and Associates Law Office said: According to the provisions of Article 182 of the Criminal Procedure Code: "The decision to bring the case to trial must be delivered to the defendant, their legal representative and the defense attorney, at least ten days before the opening of the trial".

Accordingly, the decision to bring the case to trial is notified to the defendant. In case the defendant is a person with limited cognitive behavior or a minor, the Court will assign a legal representative. In this case, the two defendants Nguyen Van Hai and Ngo Van Khoi are both over 18 years old and have no cognitive behavior restrictions, so they are not required to have a legal representative. Therefore, the case of "Disturbing public order" was tried on October 23, 2013 for the two defendants Nguyen Van Hai and Ngo Van Khoi, the fact that "the prosecution agencies did not notify the family of the trial date of October 23, 2013" is in accordance with the provisions of law.

Here, it can be seen that the Xa Doai Diocese only "shouts" indiscriminately, "demands" things that are not in the provisions of Vietnamese law, but deliberately ignores and does not mention the confessions of the two defendants Khoi and Hai, as well as the leniency of the law with the sentences given to the two defendants. Regarding these matters, Nghe An Newspaper reflected immediately after the end of the trial on Nghe An Electronic Newspaper withVideo clip about "The defendants' final words" before the court's deliberation and "The verdict of the Trial Council".The question is, who is the dishonest and not transparent person here? Who is the “hidden” person? Nghe An Newspaper affirms that there is enough evidence to prove that the case was tried openly, transparently, in accordance with Vietnamese law and is ready to dialogue with the Xa Doai Bishopric to clarify the above issue.

The truth about the incident as well as the trial of the two defendants and the verdict have been published by the mass media for many days. As a "shepherd", Bishop Nguyen Thai Hop and a number of priests at Xa Doai Bishop's Palace should have taken that as a lesson for themselves - those who are responsible for shepherding the souls of the parishioners in the diocese under their charge. At the same time, remind and advise the extremist parishioners, help them realize their wrongdoings and repent to enjoy the leniency of the law, and return to the direction of "a good parishioner is also a good citizen". That is the heart and goodwill of true religious people who are responsible for their parishioners, for the country, for the community and society.

On the other hand, Bishop Hop and some priests at the Xa Doai Bishop's Palace still deliberately made misleading and provocative statements when loudly declaring, "The Vinh Diocese has continuously requested the authorities to release Mr. Ngo Van Khoi and Mr. Nguyen Van Hai and compensate those involved for damages, and at the same time requested the cancellation of all prosecution orders related to the incident at Trai Gao on May 22, 2013 and My Yen on September 4, 2013. We reaffirm our consistent viewpoint and legitimate requests in the published documents, especially Document No. 35/13-VTTG dated July 5, 2013 regarding the request to release the people."

Those statements complicate the situation, cause disorder and social insecurity and are completely contrary to Pope Benedict XVI's Teaching: "By living a life built on charity, integrity, and respect for the common good, you must demonstrate that good Catholics are also good citizens" and the pastoral direction of the Vietnamese Bishops' Council: "Living the Gospel in the heart of the nation to serve the happiness of our compatriots". Bishop Hop and a number of priests of the Xa Doai Diocese should remember that the Vietnamese State respects the right to freedom of belief and religion, and creates favorable conditions for religious organizations to operate equally, according to the provisions of the law. However, like all other countries in the world, the Vietnamese State does not allow anyone to be above the law, to take advantage of religion to carry out plots to incite violence, destabilize social order and destroy the great unity of the entire nation.

The case has been closed with reasonable and emotional sentences, demonstrating the strictness of the law and the humanity, the tradition of kindness of “beating those who run away, not those who run back” of the Vietnamese people. The defendants have also realized their mistakes and “turned back to shore”. However, public opinion still questions whether peace and tranquility will return to My Yen parish when Bishop Hop and some priests at Xa Doai Bishop’s Palace continue to create underground waves with false statements, with provocative words like in Document 10/13-TG dated October 26, 2013? Hopefully, Mr. Nguyen Thai Hop and some priests at Xa Doai Bishop's Palace will behave appropriately as a shepherd, representing God in caring for the souls of the flock, not for personal schemes, for their own interests, forgetting that "parishioners are also citizens", and never taking advantage of the flock as tools for dark purposes to bargain with the government.

Reporter Group