Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Answer by Mrs. Phan Thuy Thanh, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam on May 14, 2003

Vietnam News Agency and the Radio Voice of Vietnam: On May 13th 2003, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report on religious freedom in several countries in the world from May 1st, 2002 to May 1st, 2003. In the Vietnam section, the Commission remarked that "the religious freedom conditions in Vietnam have deteriorated," recommending that the US State Department add Vietnam to the list of "countries of particular concerns," that the US Congress approve and the US President sign the 2003 Vietnam Human Rights Act. Please advise Vietnam's reaction to this annual report.


Answer:

We vehemently reject this report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and request that the US Congress, Administration and State Department not accept the Commission's recommendations because of the following reasons:

- These recommendations are absolutely wrongful, blatantly interfering in Vietnam's internal affairs in an attempt to obstruct the relations between Vietnam and the US and international financial institutions.

- This report has produced untruthful remarks based on fabrication and slanderous information about religious freedom in Vietnam.

At present there exist in Vietnam many different religions with approximately 20 millions religious followers, tens of thousands of religious practitioners and worship establishments.

The numbers of religious followers and religious schools are constantly on the rise. (In 1975, there was only one Buddhism Sangha University, now there are three. In 1993 there were only 22 high-grade and intermediate Buddhism Sangha schools, now there are 34. The number of Grand Monasteries for priest training is also increasing. Other religions, depending on their own traditional education forms, also run various training courses for their dignitaries.)

Religious dignitaries and practitioners have received education and training both inside and outside the country and many of whom have been assigned with new posts. (From 1975 to 2000, 42 Bishops were designated whereas from 1945 to 1975 the Vatican only appointed 33 religious personnel).

Many worship establishments have been repaired and newly constructed. A lot of religious scriptures and religious publications have been published to meet the need of religious practice of followers.

Seeing such developments in a country, who would believe religious freedom of that country "has deteriorated"?

Vietnam has always created favorable conditions for religious associations and international religious research institutions that come to Vietnam to study the country's religious situation in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding. The current visit by a large number of foreign correspondents to Tay Nguyen with diversified activity programs proves that foreigners are not restrained from studying the situation of ethnic groups and religions in Vietnam.

The international community has recognized and highly valued Vietnam's great achievements in economic, cultural and social fields and in guaranteeing that its people can enjoy the most fundamental rights to freedom. This was vividly seen in the Vietnam Consultant Group Meeting in Hanoi in December, 2002 and in the 2002 UNDP report on human development.