Danny "Greasy" Belcher, Executive Director
Task Force Omega of KY Inc.
Infantry Sgt. Vietnam 68-69
D Troop 7th Sqdn. 1st Air Cav.

TWO HOA HAO BUDDHISTS WERE FINED AND SENTENCED FOR DISTRIBUTING CD AND CASSETTES OF HOA HAO BUDDHIST TEACHINGS

Press Release April 27, 2005

At 2 pm on April 27-2005, Vietnam time, Mr. Tran Van Hoang, a.k.a. Hoa Hao Buddhist monk Ba Hung (47 years old), and his brother Tran Van Thang, a.k.a. Tu Teo, were put on trial at Thoai Son district, An Giang province for unauthorized distribution of CDs and cassettes that carry the teachings of the Church's founder.

Mr. Hoang was fined for 20 millions Vietnamese dongs and sentenced to 9 months; Mr. Thang was fined 10 millions dongs and sentenced to 6 months in prison. According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoang Em, Mr. Thang's wife, the two siblings were sentenced for infringement of Vietnam's penal code, section one, article 271, for distributing the CDs and cassettes without permit. Hoa Hao Buddhist believers intending to attend the trial were stopped by the police a mile from the court at Thoai Son; the public security police confiscated the personal papers and vehicles of ten individuals among these Hoa Hao Buddhists.

Mr. Hoang, 47 years old, and his brother Tran Van Thang, 36 years old, were arrested on Feb 25, 2005 at their home, 1054, To 7, Hoa Thoai Hamlet, Dinh Thanh City, Thoai Son District, An Giang Province. The local police confiscated all audio cassettes and CDs of Prophet Huynh's teachings, 1 computer, 1 video camcorder, some audio and video players.

Hoa Hao Buddhist Church in Santa Ana, California, USA, had informed Mr. Robert Silbertstein, political officer of United States Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. John Adams, Vietnam Desk Officer, US State Department and Dr. Scott Flipse, Policy Analyst of US Commission on International Religious Freedom, of this serious incident.

On June 18, 2004, the Standing Committee of Vietnam's National Assembly issued Ordinance Regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organizations, which confines all activities to "religious establishments" unless specifically authorized by the local People's Committee. This Ordinance has further restricted the activities of Hoa Hao Buddhists because Hoa Hao Buddhism is largely a quietist faith, emphasizing private acts of worship and devotion at home.

After 1975, the Communist government banned the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church, imprisoned many church leaders, and persecuted a large number of followers. In May 1999, under international pressure, the Vietnamese Government recognized Hoa Hao Buddhism as a religion and appointed a handpicked administrative committee to run the Church' affairs. On June 9, 2004, this committee became the Central Administrative Council. This 21-member Council has been chaired by Nguyen Van Ton, a 50-year veteran member of the Communist Party. This council has arbitrarily replaced the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church's traditional charter with a new charter. The Communist Government also changed the Internal Regulations (By-Laws) of the Ancestral Temple, which is Prophet Huynh's family property.

Attachments:

List of Hoa Hao Buddhist Prisoners up dated April 27-2005
Letter of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Prisoners' mother

NEW HOA HAO BUDDHISTS PRISONERS (updated April 27th, 2005)

1- Tran Van Hoang, aka Ba Hung (47 years old), a Hoa Hao Buddhist monk (practice at home), was arrested on Feb 25, 2005. Mr. Hoang was fined for 20 millions Vietnamese dongs and sentenced to 9 months at Thoai Son district's court, An Giang province for infringement of penal code, section one, article 271, for distributing the CD without permit. According to his mother, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Be, 71 years old, her two sons were arrested on the charge of distributing audio- cassettes and CD of Prophet Huynh's teachings without permit. He is held in Thoai Son prison. Mrs. Be was not allowed to visit her 2 sons. [Address:1054, To 7, Hoa Thoi hamlet, Dinh Thanh city, Thoai Son district, An Giang province]

2. Tran Van Thang, aka Tu Teo, 36 years old, Hoang's brother, was arrested on the same day. He was fined 10 millions Vietnamese dongs and sentenced to 6 months in prison with the same charge. According to his wife, Nguyen Thi Hoang Em, 35 years old, the local police confiscated all of their audio cassettes and CD of Phophet Huynh' Teachings, 1 computer, 1 video camcorder, audio and video players. She was held in prison for two days, but her husband is still in Thoai Son prison. [Address: 1052, to 7, Hoa Thoi hamlet, Dinh Thanh city, Thoai Son district, An Giang province]

HOA HAO BUDDHISTS IN PRISON Z 30 XUAN LOC

1. Phuong Van Kien, Hoa Hao Buddhist Z30 Xuan Loc. Some times he was handcuffed in prison. [Male, Age: 71, Phu Lam, Tan Chau], 2. Le Van Tinh: member of the People's Action Party (PAP), arrested in Thailand on 28- 11- 1996, and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam with 21 other PAP on 5- 12- 1996. Sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the An Giang Provincial Court on 8- 9- 1999 for attempting to overthrow the people government. He is in R.C. Xuan Loc, Dong Nai. [Male, born in 1941; birthplace: Phu My, Phu Tan, An Giang province]

3. Bui Tan Nha: arrested on March 13, 1997; life sentenced in R.C. Xuan Loc, Dong Nai. [Male, born in 1953; birthplace: Phu My, Phu Tan, An Giang province]

4. Le Van Son, 67 years old, male, was arrested in 1982, and sentenced to life imprisonment in R. C. Xuan Loc, Dong Nai on charge of "attempting to overthrow the people's government". He suffers from high blood pressure, has lost 90% of his teeth and is extremely weak. He is detained in T 5, Thanh Cam district, Thanh Hoa, province.

5. Nguyen Van Dao, 50 years old, male, life sentenced in R. C. Xuan Loc, Dong Nai.

6. Ngo Van Ninh, Buu Son Ky Huong Buddhist; [Male, Age: 87]

7. Le Van Chuong, Buu Son Ky Huong Buddhist; [Male, Age: 42]

LIST OF HOA HAO BUDDHISTS RELEASED, BUT STILL UNDER SURVEILLANCE 1. Truong Van Duc: arrested on Feb. 9, 2001; sentenced to 12 years in prison Dinh Thanh at Kinh Ong Co, An Giang province, for interfering with government official duty; interrupting the public order. He had to work hard labor in prison. He was released on Jan. 2005 and was harassed and followed by local police at Phu Tan district. He is sick and has difficulty breathing. [Male, born in 1943; birthplace: Cho Vam town, Phu Tan, An Giang province]

2. Bui Thien Hue: arrested on July 23, 2001 in Cambodia; sentenced to 3 years in reeducation camp Z30A, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai, for violating the house-arrest order. He is harassed by local police. He had applied for asylum at US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. He lives at Phu Hiep hamlet, Cho Vam town, Phu Tan district, An Giang province. [Male, born in 1946 My Thanh, Long Xuyen, An Giang province]

HH BUDDHISTS WHO DIED SHORTLY AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON

1. Ha Hai: arrested on Nov. 19, 2000; sentenced to 5 years in reeducation camp Z30A Xuan Loc, Dong Nai prison, for abusing freedom of democracy, violating house arrest order. He was released early last year 2004 and died after get home in a short time. [Male, born in 1931; birthplace: Nhon My, Cho Moi, An Giang province]

2. Nam Kiem: arrested in 1990, R.C. Xuan Loc, Dong Nai. According to Mr. Tran Huu Duyen, he died in prison. [Male, over 50 years old, O Mon, An Giang]

*** Contact:
Nguyen Huynh Mai
P.O.Box 3048
Santa Fee Springs,Ca 90670
hoahao.org

e-mail: huynhmai@nguyenhuynhmai.com
or hoahao@hoahao.org

HOA HAO BUDDHISM YEAR 66
THE CRY FOR HELP

To: - US Commission on International Religious Freedom
- United Nations Human Rights Commission
- US Congress and Senate
- US State Department
- The Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist Church
- All the Vietnamese media and newspapers in U.S.

Dear Sirs:

My name is Nguyen Thi Be, born 1934, mother of Tran Van Hoang, a.k.a. Ba Hung (47 years old), Tran Van Thanh, a.k.a. Tu Teo, residing in Hoa Thoi hamlet, Dinh Thanh city, Thoai Son district, An Giang province, Vietnam.

My two children are now imprisoned at the local police prison at the Thoai Son district. My sons have been arrested on February 25, 2005. The reason: disseminating the Hoa Hao Buddhist dogma under the form of direct talk to others and were distributing cassettes of Hoa Hao Buddhist teachings.

I would like to ask for your help in intervening with the Vietnamese government so that my sons may be home to the family, and continue their religious practice after the Hoa Hao Buddhis teachings.

While waiting for your consideration and assistance, I would like to send you my best gratitude.

Respectfully,