Deceiving superiors, slandering the government.

Exploiting children - a political ploy!

(Baonghean)Following a series of so-called "Joint Letters," "Communiqués," "Reports," and articles and interviews published in overseas media and reactionary websites, Mr. Nguyen Thai Hop and some extremist priests at the Xa Doai Diocese have continued to issue documents and statements denying and distorting the truth about the events that occurred at My Yen Parish recently. These two documents attempt to salvage the reputation and honor of Mr. Hop and some extremist clergy and parishioners using old rhetoric, but in the name of the Vinh Diocese Diocese and its Priests' Council.

In Letter No. 8/13-TG addressed to Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon - President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, Cardinal John Baptist Pham Minh Man, the Archbishops, Bishops, and Diocesan Administrators, Mr. Nguyen Thai Hop emphatically asserted that "some domestic and foreign newspapers and media outlets have spoken out against the authorities, defending justice and protecting the people, while Vietnamese state-run media, especially those in Nghe An, have published information with contradictory content." To prove this, Mr. Hop also "attached some typical images of the repression of parishioners by the authorities at My Yen Parish."

"Some domestic and foreign newspapers and radio stations" that Mr. Hop mentioned here, just by mentioning their names, everyone knows they are propaganda "tools" of hostile and reactionary forces opposing the Vietnamese State, such as RFI, RFA, Vietcatholic, Catholic Youth, Queen of Justice... and including the Vinh Diocese website. It's unclear what Mr. Hop's understanding and attitude towards the people and the Fatherland is that he has to "rely" on hostile forces to speak out in his defense and against those who have violated the law? To deny the truth, evade responsibility, and deceive public opinion about these violations, Mr. Hop falsely accuses "Vietnamese state-owned newspapers and radio stations, especially those in Nghe An, of publishing information with contradictory content."

The so-called "typical images of the repression of parishioners by the authorities at My Yen Parish" that Mr. Hop sent to various places—could they be images of innocent children being exploited to hold up reactionary slogans and banners at prayer services, which are widely posted on social media? Or are they images of some extremist parishioners with marches and disturbances that have occurred repeatedly recently? Such as the incidents of surrounding, causing disturbances, illegally detaining people, and resisting law enforcement officers that occurred on August 30th, September 3rd, and September 4th at the Nghi Phuong Commune People's Committee headquarters (Nghi Loc District). Then there were marches and prayer services that violated doctrine and the law in the parishes of My Yen, Binh Thuan, Nhan Hoa, La Nham… With fabricated “evidence,” Mr. Hop loudly claimed that “the parishioners were being oppressed in My Yen Parish” and called for “the spirit of solidarity and communion” of “the entire community of God’s people.”

The banners were insulting to law enforcement.
during the illegal demonstrations.

Besides the documents used to deceive and mislead superiors, to "prove" the so-called "truth" in My Yen Parish, Mr. Hop also issued a so-called "Statement of the Vinh Diocese Priests' Council" in the name of the Bishop's Office and the Vinh Diocese Priests' Council, with the aim of "deep communion and shared views with the Bishop's Office and the Bishop of the diocese," for the documents, pastoral letters, and communiqués (containing distorted, fabricated, and anti-Vietnamese State content) that Mr. Hop and some priests had previously issued in the name of the Xa Doai Bishop's Office. The rhetoric of "condemning tyranny, aiming to protect the truth and human rights that have been suppressed in Nghe An province in recent times" in the so-called "Statement of the Vinh Diocese Priests' Council" is, in reality, a search for "shared views" to cover up the wrongdoings committed by Mr. Hop and some extremist priests and parishioners.

The arguments put forward in the "Declaration" are merely familiar slanderous and distorted claims without concrete evidence, such as: "plainclothes police officers prevented people from attending the ceremony, causing public outrage." Then, it justifies and encourages these illegal acts as "the people's instinct for self-defense, leading to uncontrolled outbursts of anger." Although the "Declaration" acknowledges that the actions of the extremist parishioners "caused serious consequences," it blames "the police officers and their supervising agencies."

The extremist parishioners (including Ngo Van Khoi and Nguyen Van Hai) had "caused serious consequences" and confessed to the Nghe An Provincial Police Investigation Agency, yet the "Statement" still concluded that "The arbitrary arrest of Mr. Ngo Van Khoi and Mr. Nguyen Van Hai on June 27, 2013, was not only baseless, but also contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, unethical, and contrary to the compassionate traditions of the nation." With this assessment, the "Statement" accused "this of being the consequence of covering up the wrongdoing of public officials and the reason leading to the peaceful gathering of people at the Nghi Phuong Commune People's Committee."

The incident occurred on May 22nd. With only a few plainclothes police officers on the street, how could they possibly "prevent" thousands of people from attending a religious service when some extremist parishioners acted out of "uncontrolled rage" and assaulted the police officers without reason, then blamed it on them "preventing people from attending the service"? Strangely, in previous documents sent to various levels of government and other places, Mr. Hop and some priests, acting in the name of the Xa Doai Diocese, only falsely accused the police officers without providing any credible evidence. When the extremists who "caused serious consequences" were arrested, Mr. Hop claimed it was "contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, unethical, and contrary to the compassionate traditions of the nation." It is clear who is at fault here, covering up these violations of the law!

Nghi Loc police are ready to rescue and assist the people.
Route 534 is flooded due to heavy rain.

Using the same slanderous and fabricated rhetoric, the "Statement" boldly stated: "The bloody crackdown on September 4, 2013, at My Yen Parish was an inhumane and illegal act," "we condemn the violence against innocent civilians," and blamed it on "the elaborate staging and organization by the Nghe An Police."

The recent incidents at My Yen Parish were witnessed by many people and publicly reported in the media by some extremist clergy, officials, and parishioners who disregarded the law. Yet, the "Statement" deliberately ignored the truth to falsely accuse and label "the breaking into Mr. Nguyen Van Van's house, assaulting and abducting people, and destroying property as a violation of the inviolable right to domicile," "the destruction of sacred statues on the private altar as an act of sacrilege and a serious offense against religious freedom," and "the Nghe An police trampled on the national emblem by denying the legal validity of the commitment letter to release people issued by the Nghi Phuong Commune People's Committee."

Then, in a loud "statement," they asserted that they understood and complied with the law by citing provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code, the Vietnamese Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights... If Mr. Hop and some extremist priests had truly "lived and worked according to the Constitution and the law," the unfortunate events of the past would not have occurred.

The issuance of numerous so-called "Joint Letters," "Commune Statements," "Reports," protest letters, and declarations aimed at distorting the truth and slandering the government by Mr. Hop and some extremist priests is the reason that "caused many difficulties for the meticulously constructed dialogue between the Vinh Diocese and the Nghe An authorities," and "added fuel to the fire." However, the "Declaration" blames "the authorities for using newspapers, radio, and Official Document 139/UBND-NC dated September 8, 2013, from the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to cover up the truth, slander the Bishop, defame the priests, and mislead public opinion."

To appear to be in “deep communion and agreement with the Bishopric and the Diocesan Bishop” regarding the events that occurred, the “Statement” distorted the truth, claiming that “the repression in My Yen was organized and directly directed by the government” and placing “full responsibility on the government.” It then went on to proclaim that “the bishops, priests, parishioners, and people in the area are merely victims of the repression and therefore need protection,” “condemning tyranny and protecting innocent people.” And it loudly demanded that “the authorities clarify the responsibility of the officials and agencies involved in the incident, and release Mr. Ngo Van Khoi and Mr. Nguyen Van Hai.” At this point, it becomes clear that “deceiving superiors and slandering the government” to cover up wrongdoing has become the nature of these imposters!

Authorities at all levels acted swiftly to handle the incident, rather than waiting for a formal "declaration." One of their tasks was to expose the masterminds and extremists who committed these violations, so that appropriate and lawful sentences could be handed down.

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