SONG HINH, Vietnam — Two Christian evangelists, Ksor Y Du, 47, and Kpa Y Co, 30, were sentenced in November to six and four years in prison, respectively, for “undermining national unity.”
Du and Co of the Vietnam Good News Mission (VGNM) church received the sentences Nov. 15. House arrest of four and two years, respectively, also was added to the sentences, according to church sources. Both evangelists, who are of the Ede minority, live in Song Hinh district of Phu Yen province, where there are some 20 VGNM congregations.
Du was one of many thousands of ethnic minority people in Vietnam’s Central Highland who participated in demonstrations in 2004 against religious oppression and illegal confiscation of their traditional lands. They were held 10 months without charges, the area sources said. During interrogation, authorities ordered them to accuse VGNM leaders of illegally starting the organization and to accuse Pastor Mai Hong Sanh of opening an illegal Bible school in Buon Ma Thuot, sources said. The authorities grew angry when they refused.
Du’s wife, A Le H’Gioi, told church leaders that the presiding judge of the People’s Court addressed the matter of their faith directly, asking her husband, “Do you still insist on following the religion?” The judge also asked him, “After serving in prison already, do you still insist on staying with the Vietnam Good News Mission?”
She said her husband answered that he would not give up his faith in God even if it meant death.
Share with others: