CU HAT, Vietnam — Local government officials in Dak Lak Province of Vietnam Dec. 17 made good on their threat to destroy a new wooden church building erected in September by Hmong Christians in Cu Hat village. At 7 a.m. in Cu Dram Commune, Krong Bong district, a large contingent of government officials, police and demolition workers arrived at the site of Vietnam Good News Mission and Church, razing it by 8:30 a.m. Police wielding electric cattle prods beat back hundreds of distraught Christians who rushed to the site to protect the building.
Five injured people were taken away in an emergency vehicle authorities had brought to the scene. The injured included a child who suffered a broken arm and a pregnant woman who fainted after being poked in the stomach with an electric cattle prod. Villagers said they fear she may miscarry.
By day’s end one badly injured woman had not yet been returned to the village and authorities would not divulge where she was. One Vietnamese church leader said the demolition of the church ahead of Christmas showed the heartlessness of officials toward Christian believers. “They think no one will notice or do anything about what they do in a remote area,” he said.
Share with others: