Sydney, Jan 12, 2010- The Federation of Vietnamese Catholic Mass Media is urgently reporting to the world community about a brutal act of violence committed by the police against a Catholic writer and reporter in Vietnam

At 5:30 PM on Monday Jan. 11, Mr. JB Nguyen Huu Vinh, a Catholic freelance journalist was accompanying Fr. Nguyen Van Lien, assistant priest of Dong Chiem Parish, on their trip to the site of an early morning police attack on Jan 6, 2010 which left dozen parishioners wounded before dynamites were used to blow up a 5 meter crucifix erected on the hilltop of the parish cemetery dubbed "Mount of worship".

According to Fr. Lien, when they were about 500 meters to their destination of Dong Chiem, My Duc District of Hanoi, the pair ran into a huge dirt pile on the bridge of Ai Nang, freshly dumped by the police to block access to Dong Chiem. As the priest was trying to get his motorbike around this road bock, a group of about 10 uniformed and plainclothes police suddenly approached and assaulted Mr. Vinh savagely until he became unconscious.

Seeing his companion being attacked, Fr. Lien abandoned his bike and rushed to Mr. Vinh's rescue, only to get him being overpowered and manhandled by police forces.

The perpetrators then left with the victim's camera, leaving him with a bloody mouth and a concussion on the side of the road. Only then Fr.Lien could call for help and the Sisters of the order of Lovers of the Holy Cross in Dong Chiem quickly came to their rescue, in time to save Mr. Vinh's life. He is still being cared for by medical doctors and his family in Hanoi.

In light of the violence against Mr. JB Nguyen Huu Vinh, The Federation, therefore, would like to:

1. Strongly denounce Vietnamese police brutality against a journalist.

2. Demand Vietnam government to start an investigation on this incident in order for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, and the victim properly compensated for the bodily and emotional trauma he has sustained as a result of this senseless act.

3. Expose to the world community an illegal and immoral crime committed by Vietnamese law enforcement against the right to perform duty of a reporter.

4. Express our growing concern that the situation in Dong Chiem has started spinning out of control as the local government is reapplying the violent strategy of using hired thugs, and delinquent juveniles to attack Catholics while state media keep spreading negative image of Catholic, distorting the truth, defaming religion, and promoting hatred between Catholics and non-Catholics. Vietnam government must stop persecuting the Catholic priests and the faithful, and restore law and order in worshiping areas to prevent violence aimed at participants.

5. Demand local authorities in Vietnam to respect the law they promulgated and return the properties which rightfully belonged to the Catholic Church and other religious groups.

Contact:
Fr. Paul Van Chi Chu
Tel: (02) 9773 0933
Mob: 0410 552 650

Mons. Peter Tai Van Nguyen
Director of Radio Veritas Asia
Buick St. North Fairview,
Quezon City, Philippines
P.O. Box 2642
Email: rvaprogram@rveritas-asia.org

Fr. John Nghi Tran
Director of VietCatholic News Agency
435 Berkeley Ave
Claremont, CA 91711, USA
Email: conggiao@gmail.com

Fr. Joachim Viet-Chau Nguyen Duc
Director of People Of God Magazine in America
PO Box 1419 Gretna,
LA 70053-5440, USA.
Email: danchuausa@yahoo.com

Fr. Anthony Quang Huu Nguyen
Director of People Of God Magazine in Australia
715 Sydney Rd. Brunswick Vic 3056
Australia
Email: danchuaucchau@gmail.com

Fr. Stephen Luu Thuong Bui
Director of People Of God Magazine in Europe
Magazine Catholique
Katholische Monatszeitschrift
Monthly Catholic Magazine
Email: info@danchua.de

Fr. Paul Van-Chi Chu
Vice Director of VietCatholic Network
92 The River Rd - Revesby
NSW 2212
Australia
Email: paulvanchi@yahoo.com