Hundreds of Vietnamese Christians killed at Easter

Ekklesia ^ | 13/4/04 | Ekklesia

[joesnuffy]

Hundreds of Vietnamese Christians killed at Easter -13/4/04

An estimated 400 Christians have been killed during peaceful and prayerful demonstrations by Christians in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

On Saturday 10 April up to 400,000 Vietnamese Christians, from the Degar people, gathered in several Vietnamese cities to demonstrate against the government’s refusal to allow them to follow the Christian faith freely.

The demonstrators in the cities, which included the Central Highland city of Buonmathuot, were attacked by soldiers, police and other Vietnamese civilians. The Christians were shot at, beaten with electric batons and bombarded with rocks and stones. Hundreds were killed (400 according to one report) and many others have suffered broken bones reports the Barnabas Fund which works to support Christian communities in the Islamic world.

In a press release on 9 April an organisation representing the largely Christian Degar people, known as the Montagnard Foundation, drew attention to the planned demonstrations, which were to include a specific call for the Vietnamese government to lift the embargo on international human rights monitoring in the Central Highlands area. In a word of warning concerning the demonstrations the Foundation cautioned that “Without the direct intervention of law abiding states, the UN and the European Commission, the repression against the Montagnards will be bloody.”

It is also feared that this incident may spark a refugee crisis, with thousands heading for the Cambodian border. The Cambodians have however closed the border to refugees.

In a statement issued after the demonstrations had begun, the President of the Montagnard Foundation said that no attempt was made by the Christians to use violence. He also stated that the Christians are not seeking independence, merely the right to worship freely.

The Foundation has stated that “Our people cannot continue suffering this way as the Vietnamese government continues to arrest, electric shock torture, and kill our peaceful hill tribe people for being Christian or for trying to save our ancestral land from being confiscated.”

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

With the moral support of Senator John Kerry.

Smith Introduces Vietnam Human Rights Act (2002/2003 - Died in Senate, Kerry put hold on it)

Vietnam's 'Appalling' Persecution [John Kerry]

Freeper Alert: Sen. KERRY / Communist Vietnamese Killing Off Christains in Central Highlands...

[sergeantdave]

Kerry supporters murder 400 Christians. UN busy hiding "Food for Oil" cash. Anti-war protesters stoned but happy. Walter Cronkite silent but happy.

[DTA]

horrible news ping

400 Christians murdered in Viet Nam

[oyez]

WHERE THE HELL IS THE AMERICAN MEDIA?

I get it, move along nothing here to see.

[ArrogantBustard]

It's not news. Murdering Christians is not Politically Incorrect. If it were, Chinese Communists would be Public Enemy Number 1, and the New Dork Slimes would be ranting against mohammedans the world over.

[adam_az]

"It's not news. Murdering Christians is not Politically Incorrect. If it were, Chinese Communists would be Public Enemy Number 1, and the New Dork Slimes would be ranting against mohammedans the world over."

I am disgusted by the Vietnamese gov and their compliant waterboys at the UN and in the US Senate.

I'm also repulsed by your tagline. Torquemada is not a man to honor or emulate, you hypocrite!

[lsucat]

bookmarking for later

[BossLady]

Why aren't the Pubbies using slogans like:

Kerry Against Human Rights!

I mean...if the botox fits...... ;)

[ArrogantBustard]

You've a right to be repulsed by whatever you like. It's (still) a (more or less) free country. In spite of the best efforts of the Demoplican or Republicrat parties.

[Gritty]

The peace of the grave descended on Vietnam in 1976.

For that, we can thank the likes of Jane Fonda, John Kerry, VVAW, the KGB, the Communist Party, Liberals, North Vietnam, the National Liberal Front and the Democrat Party in Congress (but, I repeat myself) who pulled the plug on the South Vietnamese and allowed them to sink.

This blood is on their hands. May all their sleeps consist of nightmares, cold sweats and screams.

[adam_az]

Torquemada was notorious for cruelly torturing non-Christians.

Please explain how you are OK with a Christian who tortured and killed non-Christians, but not ok with someone who tortures and kills Christians.

Honesly, if you believe that you are no better than Islamo-fascist jihadi killers and their supporters..

[WilliamofCarmichael]

"Gee, I hope they can round up some more cheap labor to replace them. Don't want to see production suffer." A. Free Trader.

[DTA]

[ArrogantBustard]

I'm repulsed by the protestant propaganda which you are now repeating.

I expect you to condemn George Washington for owning slaves.

I expect you to condemn the Eighth Air Force and the British Bomber Command for indiscriminately bombing civilian populations.

I expect you to condemn the United States generally for repeated violating treaties with the various Indian Nations.

Shall I go on?

Good bye.

[DTA]

Another Clinton Legacy (C)

[Teacher317]

Don't you realize that Christians are irrelevant in the global picture? Those evil white male European conquerors were Christians. Therefore, the wholesale slaughter of Christians is not newsworthy, and should be regarded as just desserts for their evil forebears' rampaging. Vietnamese Christians should not whine now that they have chosen to side with the 16th Century's Religion of Conquest.

/sarcasm>

[monday]

"In a word of warning concerning the demonstrations the Foundation cautioned that “Without the direct intervention of law abiding states, the UN and the European Commission, the repression against the Montagnards will be bloody.” "

So they expected this but held the demonstrations anyway? Sounds to me like the organizers of these demonstrations are more to blame for these deaths than the Gov. I can sympathize with the demonstrators over their right to worship, but you don't step in front of a bullet unless you want to die. I think the organizers wanted innocent people to die.

[adam_az]

Pope Sixtus wrote to Ferdinand and Isabella that the Inquisitors at Seville in earlu 1482,

"without observing juridical prescriptions, have detained many persons in violation of justice, punishing them by severe tortures and imputing to them, without foundation, the crime of heresy, and despoiling of their wealth those sentenced to death, in such form that a great number of them have come to the Apostolic See, fleeing from such excessive rigor and protesting their orthodoxy."

I guess the Pope was also a Protestant Propagandist?

Torquemada was the prime mover behind the expulsion of Jews from Spain. More Protestant propaganda?

He sponsored book-burneing festivals of the Hebrew Torah. More Protestant propaganda?

You are going to sit in your chair and justify torture as suitable punishment for heresy against Catholic teachings?

Ferdinand wanted the Jews out of his Kingdon, and the inquisition was his method. It was a useful way to wipe out debt from the loans his father took out from Jewish financiers to pursue the marriage/alliance with Castile. Condemnation of the noteholder wiped out the debt.

Are you saying regular "auto de fe" never happened?

None of the examples you provided are anywhere near a parallel to the 350 year inquisition.

Torquemada was a wicked murderer.

Please, go on. Eventually, you'll stick your foot in your mouth so far that you choke on it.