authorities of the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho to strictly punish
siblings Dang Thanh Dinh and Dang Van Nghia for their illegal missionary
activities.
The opinionated and extremist
activities of Dinh, 42, and Nghia, 38, both now residing in Phuoc Thoi
ward, O Mon district of Can Tho City, and their disregard of the laws
were also announced at a press conference jointly held by the Can Tho
City Fatherland Front, the Religion Committee and relevant agencies in
Can Tho on August 23.
Earlier, on Feb. 27, 2010,
Can Tho city’s relevant agencies announced the legal violations of
Dinh and Nghia, who took advantage of religious titles to illegally
teach Hoa Hao Buddhism to seek profit and cause social security
disorder.
The Hoa Hao Buddhist Sect’s Executive
Committee of Phuoc Thoi ward confirmed in its document that Dinh and
Nghia are neither Hoa Hao Buddhist followers nor Hoa Hao dogmas
teachers.
However, both Dinh and Nghia declared
themselves Hoa Hao Buddhist followers and regularly held get-togethers
without permission on the seventh and eighth days every month to
illegally carry out missionary work, offer medical check-ups, and print
and distribute almost 20,000 CDs and cassette tapes with private
religious missionary content.
At the press
conference, Hoa Hao Buddhist followers voiced their support for Hoa Hao
Buddhism, recognised by the state since 1999 with the guideline, “For
religion, for the nation” and condemned Dinh and Nghia’s illegal
missionary work which has stirred up popularity.
They requested the State protect the genuineness of Hoa Hao
Buddhism and called on Hoa Hao Buddhist followers to be vigilant of
demagogic tones of ill elements who take advantage of religious freedom
and belief to make profits and cause disorder./.
