Mennonite Weekly Review

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Members of a Mennonite house church continue to meet in the home of Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang after part of the building was dismantled by local authorities Jan. 9.

That morning, while a group from the church was gathered for prayer, a large force sent by the local government precinct came to the house and tore out most of the renovations made on the structure last summer. About 40 people meet in the house church each Sunday.

Though Quang argued that their actions were illegal, the authorities arrested and held 17 people for several hours until the demolition work was done. The church members were then released with no charges filed.

This confrontation is the latest in a long tug-of-war between the congregation and the local pre­cinct.

Previously, Quang and five other church leaders and members were jailed in what observers said was a program of harassment by government officials.

In July 2004, shortly after Quang and the others were arrested, authorities tore down part of the building, which they claimed was built beyond the legal property line. Temporary repairs were then made.

After an international gift was offered to make permanent repairs, Quang submitted a request to repair and upgrade the building. In May, the precinct authorities issued a permit to repair the building but stipulated that no additional alterations were to be made.

When it became evident that Quang was raising the roof and making a new upstairs loft, local authorities forcibly tore down some of this construction and confiscated the building materials.

However, city officials ordered the return of the materials, and the renovations continued.

On Jan. 2, the precinct chairman, Nguyen Van Hai, ordered that the renovations be removed. He later asked to meet to discuss the matter with Quang, who was out of town and did not attend the meeting.

On Jan. 5, the chairman issued an order stating that the authorities would come on Jan. 9 to remove the parts of the building they claimed were built illegally.

Quang maintains that authorities selectively enforce newly enacted zoning laws to restrict the free association of religious groups, including Quang’s congregation.

Some observers noted that local authorities did not move against the church last summer while Vietnam was asking to be removed from the U.S. State Department list of “countries of particular concern” due to religious liberty and human rights issues, and because Vietnam was seeking membership in the World Trade Organization. Now that Vietnam has achieved these aims, it appears that authorities have fewer inhibitions in restricting religious groups, the observers said.