Thich Quang Do, the 2006 Rafto Prize Laureate, addressed farmers demonstrating in Ho Chi Minh City against power abuse and state appropriation of lands on July 17. “To solve these problems, we must work together for political pluralism, democracy and human rights, especially freedom of expression. There can be no justice under the one-Party state”. This is the first time in 26 years of detention and house arrest that prominent dissident Thich Quang Do has addressed a public demonstration (30-JUL-07).
Written by Gunta Venge/Rafto Human Rights House
Source and photos: The International Buddhist Information Buerau, Paris
This recent demonstration is one of the most long-running protests. For the past couple of weeks, in a desperate attempt to seek redressment for their grievances, several hundreds of dispossessed farmers from 19 provinces and 9 districts of Ho Chi Minh City have camped outside the National Assembly office.
Thich Quang Do was accompanied by a delegation of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) monks. Using a megaphone provided by a demonstrator, Thich Quang Do expressed the UBCV´s solidarity with their problems.
Thich Quang Do and the other UBCV monks had left their pagodas separately in order to avoid Police attention. Large numbers of Security Police, in uniform and in plain-clothes, were on the scene of the demonstration, surrounding the protesters and mingling in their ranks, taking photos and filming with video cameras. “I am very happy that I could visit the demonstrators”, said Thich Quang Do. “I have been hoping to do so for some time, but it is difficult because I am under house arrest. I decided to go today, come what will. I was very happy that I was able to fulfil my wish”.
Thich Quang Do told the farmers to continue their legitimate protests, but warned that their grievances could not be settled under the one-Party Communist regime:
“One single party cannot possibly represent more that 80 million Vietnamese people.
We must have a multi-party system that gives the people wide representation. To solve all these problems and injustices, we must work together for pluralism, democracy and human rights. Freedom of expression is especially important, for without this freedom, how can the people express their grievances and express their opinions to their rulers?”
Thich Quang Do and the UBCV delegation
“So first of all, we must immediately settle the pressing questions of demanding justice, land rights and compensation for farmers. But after that, we must all work together for human rights, democracy and freedom. Everyone must do his part. We must work together until we succeed in winning democracy, freedom and human rights for all the Vietnamese people. There can be no justice under the one-Party State”.
