Release International

After months of demonstrations and prayer vigils over confiscated church land in Hanoi, the authorities have finally snapped and bulldozed an historic church building.

Peaceful prayer vigils to demand the return of land confiscated by the Communists in the 1950s have been held since late last year and are now drawing thousands of protesters. There have been large gatherings at a site on Nha Chung Street near St Joseph's Cathedral in central Hanoi and another in the parish of Thai Ha.

The authorities had promised in February to negotiate a settlement over an historic church building near the cathedral – then horrified demonstrators by demolishing it last month. The official Vietnam News Agency has since reported it will be turned into a library and park 'to serve public interests' and 'meet the Hanoians' demand for relaxation'.

The authorities were clearly rattled by the scale of the vigils which have drawn increasingly large crowds. In Thai Ha, where Christians are demanding the return of a 60,000 square metre plot which the government plans to turn into a park, up to 10,000 people gathered after the Nha Chung Street demolition.

Now the authorities have warned Archbishop of Hanoi Ngo Qu Kiet of 'extreme action' if prayer vigils continue.
 
(Sources: CathNews; Christian Today; Compass Direct; Vietnam News Agency; VOM Canada)

Thank God for the groundswell of peaceful protest which suggests the church in Vietnam is gaining in confidence, even id harassment.

Pray for justice for churches seeking the restoration of confiscated land.

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