(2004/C 33 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0746/03

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject:   Hmong Christians in Vietnam

The suffering of Hmong Christians in Vietnam has been brought to my attention. Contrary to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, these people are not allowed the freedom of religious practice, and are apparently persecuted by public security police, border police and even political leaders, all of whom compel the Hmong Christians to abandon their faith. Families have been evicted from their homes, and some, such as Mr Mua Bua Senh, have died — apparently as a result of injuries inflicted as he refused to leave his family home.

It is unacceptable that people, regardless of their creed, be subjected to such intolerance and persecution, and I would ask the Commission whether, in view of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, it is acceptable that Vietnamese citizens be treated in this manner.

Has the Commission updated its policy with regard to relations with Vietnam, and is it pressing the Vietnamese authorities to adopt national laws in accordance with the principles of Article 18 to ensure that Vietnamese citizens do not suffer such persecution and are able to live their lives free of repression regardless of faith or race?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

The Constitution of Vietnam guarantees freedom of belief and religion. Vietnam's government officially recognises six religions — one Buddhist organisation, the Central Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the Catholic Church, two Protestant church organisations, Islam, Hoa Hao Buddhism and Cao-Daism.

The total population of Vietnam is estimated at 78,5 millions. The official figure for active Buddhists is stated at 7,5 million, and up to roughly half of the Vietnamese claim to be Buddhists and practice Buddhism. There are between 6 and 7 million practising Catholics and around 1 million of practising Protestants. The number of Protestants, especially in the South of Vietnam and amongst the ethnic minority population in rural areas, has grown rapidly in recent years. The remaining four religions are reported to have about 2,5 million adherents in total, including around 70 000 Muslims.

The Vietnamese Constitution also specifies that ‘it is forbidden to violate freedom of belief or religion, or to take advantage of it or to act against the laws or policies of the State’. This provision is attributed to the desire of the Vietnamese authorities to control the pace of change and to maintain cohesion in their society during the process of transition to a market economy. As the authorities of Vietnam perceive notably unapproved religious movements as an element of political opposition and of disunity, this provision is frequently invoked to justify controls, limitations, prohibitions and sanctions that restrict freedom in this field.

Reports of harassment of some Christians in Vietnam (especially against the Montagnard Christians and Hmong Christians) have increased since the violent uprising in the Central Highlands in February 2001. A number of reports have alleged repeated actions by the security forces aimed at forcing highlanders to renounce their faith. These reports and reports of accidental deaths or beatings under police custody are denied by the Vietnamese authorities. It has not so far been possible to obtain independent confirmation of such reports.

The Commission shares the worries expressed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in July 2002 regarding Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee noted that the information provided by Vietnam was insufficient to have a clear view of the situation in the country with regard to religious freedom. In the light of the information available that certain religious practices are repressed or strongly discouraged in Vietnam, the Committee expressed serious concern that Vietnam's State party practice in this respect does not meet the requirements of article 18 of the Covenant.

The Commission's policy towards Vietnam is to encourage and support progress on human rights and democratisation, and to raise concerns where abuses occur or where a deterioration in the situation becomes evident. The Commission works closely with the Member States to monitor closely human rights developments in the country and participates in all Union démarches to the Government of Vietnam on human rights issues.

The Commission welcomes the decision of the Government of Vietnam to elaborate an action plan for legal reform, based on the Legal Means Assessment, which has been established with the support of the international donor community. The Union, Commission together with the Member states, has repeatedly urged the Government of Vietnam to strengthen its respect for political and religious freedoms, as well as to further strengthen economic and social freedoms. The Union has expressed this request in its declaration at the Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi in December 2002. Moreover, the Commission and the Member States have declared that they will welcome any possibility to support the Vietnamese government in measures to strengthen the governance and public administrative reforms, to improve human rights, to prepare for the signing and implementation of additional international conventions in human rights and in other areas where assistance could be helpful.

The Commission Delegation, together with the representatives of the Member States, will continue to follow closely the human rights situation in Vietnam and take appropriate action.