AES Sangha Supports Baht Nha

Dear Honorable Ambassador, 

We are writing today to bring to your immediate attention a worsening crisis in Vietnam and urging the government to intervene to protect peace-loving young Vietnamese citizens at the Bat Nha Monastery in Lam Dong Province. A group of 400 young monks and nuns living at the monastery for over four years now are being continually harassed by local monks and villagers, while the local government officials stand by in disregard. These young monastics have been repeatedly kept from meeting their most basic human needs of food and water for over two weeks now. This situation has not resolved itself in several weeks and is worsening.

In the strongest terms possible, we urge the Vietnamese Government to intervene and ensure that this community is allowed to live in peace as law abiding Vietnamese citizens and to have safe access to food, water, and electricity, all of which are basic human rights. We trust that when the Central Government is made aware of this provincial situation, they will help bring peace to the people of this area.

These 400 monks and nuns have lived at the Bat Nha Monastery, Hamlet 13, Dambri Village, Bao Loc District, Lam Dong Province since 2005. They have invested considerable energy and money (over US$1 million) in improving the monastery grounds and supporting the local community. They are not a political body and seek only to practice mindfulness and to serve others.

As it stands there are parties who have come into the monastery grounds, have cut water and communication lines, and are harassing the 400 monks and nuns living there. When attempts were made to install a well for water, the workers were threatened and the project was abandoned. The tension level has increased and the monks and nuns are threatened with attacks. Some are too afraid to go outside to secure water and food for their needs. The local police has stood by, without intervening to bring peace. In addition, phone and internet lines have also been cut. More details of the situation can be found at http://helpbatnha.org website that is being maintained by international supporters of the monastery.

It is imperative that the Vietnamese government step in and handle this situation under the international laws of human rights. These 400 young monks and nuns have done nothing wrong, yet now their basic human rights are taken away, affecting their health and well being. This is not a political or religious issue—it is a human rights issue.

The monks and nuns are the sons and daughters of Vietnam. They deserve the protection from their government and the freedom to peacefully meet their basic human needs in safety. We know that the country has steadily improved its record with regards to human and religious rights at the start of this new millennium and we are confident that the government will do what is right and dutiful and continue on this path of fairness and openness.

We urge your immediate action to help resolve this situation.

We need your help urgently.

Sincerely,
The American Embassy School Sangha