Who is MWC?

World Directory
  *World Map 2003

World Assembly: Africa 2003
  *Photo Tour

Faith and Life Council, Peace Council

Global Youth Summit

Global Mission Fellowship

Program Plan 2003-2006

World Fellowship Sunday

Publications

News Releases

How can you participate?

Another Vietnam Mennonite Leader Released from Prison; Continued Concern for Ms. Lien

HO CHI MINH CITY - Nguyen Van Phuong was released from prison on Thursday (March 3). He appeared to be in fair health.

His wife, Phuong Trang, and one-year-old son were among family members and church friends who met him as he was released from the Bo La Prison, eighty kilometers/fifty miles north of Ho Chi Minh City. His son was only one month old at the time of his arrest.

His release came one day after the anniversary of the March 2 incident March 2, 2004, which sparked the arrests.

Phuong's wife was not permitted to visit her husband until five months after his arrest. He appealed his sentence after the November 12 trial, but the appeal was rejected. He was then moved from the Chi Hoa Prison in Ho Chi Minh City to the Bo La Prison to complete his sentence. His wife traveled to visit him each week. Some weeks she was not permitted to meet him, and could only leave a gift of food or other personal items.

Phuong, 38, had served various pastoral roles since his mid-twenties. When several Mennonite communities formed the Vietnam Mennonite Church in 2003, he was chosen to serve on the administrative committee as a member for social ministries.

Nguyen Huu Nghia and Nguyen Thanh Nhan, brothers, were released from Ho Chi Minh's Chi Hoa Prison after completing their nine month sentences in early December. They are still recovering from mistreatment in prison.

Meanwhile family and church friends continue their concern for Ms. Le Thi Hong Lien, who like Phuong, was also sentenced to one year imprisonment. Her arrest, however, had not come until the end of June. She was being held in Chi Hoa Prison in Ho Chi Minh City.

On February 1 Nguyen Quang Du, the father of Ms. Lien, sent a request to Vietnamese authorities, asking that Ms. Lien be medically treated because she was weak and mentally deranged.

In mid-February Mr. Du visited her in prison, and reported that her health was very bad.

When he went to visit her a week later, he was informed that she was transferred to the Tong Le Chan prison in Binh Phuoc province, 170 kilometers/105 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City.

On February 23 Mr. Du went to the Tong Le Chan Prison, and reported that his daughter's health was poor. She was unable to care for her personal hygiene, was suffering from edema and had not eaten for several days.

In a bizarre development, on March 1 a person purporting to be a Dr. Hoang from the Bien Hoa Mental Hospital just east of Ho Chi Minh City came to see Mr. Du, saying that Ms. Lien had been brought to this hospital for a checkup and no problems were found! Mr. Du asked to visit her and was told to wait for a phone call.

The next day he received a call and was told that his daughter was returned to Tong Le Chan Prison since there were no problems. Family and friends are questioning the authenticity of this report.

The appeal hearings for Nguyen Hong Quang, general secretary of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, and for Pham Ngoc Thach, announced for February 2, were postponed, and no new date has yet been announced.

Church leaders are grateful for the advocacy on behalf of the imprisoned leaders, and ask for continued prayer and support for them and their families.

— Vietnamese Ministries