Property of Christians in Vietnam burned down

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Less than a year after believers in Vietnam’s central Quang Ngai province saw some of their dwellings destroyed, a mob burned down five homes of other Hre minority Christians in the legally recognized Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South). Church leaders believe local authorities either allowed or instigated the burning of the five homes owned by Hre Christians in Son Tinh Commune, Son Tay district of Quang Ngai province, on the morning of March 7. In addition, two believers who had rebuilt area homes destroyed in July 2005 had their outbuildings for storing paddy rice burned March 4. One of the Christians, Dinh Van Heo, lost 55 sacks of rice; he had recently faced severe pressure to recant his faith.