Title Vietnam: 1. Please provide background information on the Hoa Hao branch of Buddhism, including its history, establishment, core tenets, and philosophy. 2. How does Hoa Hao Buddhism differ from other branches of Buddhism? 3. Please provide information on the demographics of Hoa Hao Buddhism in Vietnam, including total numbers, percentages, location, and predominance. 4. Please provide information on the Ancestral Temple. 5. In what sense are there official as compared to unofficial religious groups in Vietnam? Was Hoa Hao Buddhism officially recognised in Vietnam in 1999? 6. Please provide information on the Hoa Hao Central Buddhist Church (HHCBC). 7. Please provide information on the Hoa Hao Administrative Council, including when and why it was formed, its purpose, and its major achievements. 8. Is there any information about the Hoa Hao Buddhists splitting into 2 groups following suppression of the religion, and were leaders detained? 9. Is the Hoa Hao Buddhist branch seen as a political opposition force to the ruling regime in Vietnam? 10. Do Hoa Hao Buddhists experience any societal discrimination as a result of their religion? 11. Please provide current information on whether Hoa Hao Buddhists have been arrested, detained, or otherwise mistreated by the ruling regime in Vietnam. 12. Is there information on what the local police attitude is towards followers of Hoa Hao? Is there information that government authorities from Ho Chi Minh City will harm/mistreat followers, please provide information on the distinction between the local and the national authorities which might take an interest in the religion. 13. Is there information on authorities seizing or confiscating Hoa Hao properties since the end of the Vietnam War? 14. Is there information to confirm or deny that a government document dated 18 February 1979 laid out a 15-year campaign to exterminate the Hoa Hao Buddhist religion? 15. Is there information to show that the Vietnamese authorities banned the celebration of the Founder's Day Festival (the founder being Huynh Phu So) in 1999 or so? 16. Please provide information on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Hoa Hao at the Ancestral Temple in 1999, whether it was sought to be banned but attracted 1 million attendees. 17. Is there information on two Hoa Hao Buddhists self-immolating in 2005? 18. Is there any information of a court in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap sentencing four Hoa Hao followers to between 4 and 6 years imprisonment for creating public disorder? Is so, please provide information on this. 19. Is there information of a hunger strike in 2006 which relates to the Hoa Hao religion?
Publisher Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal
Publication Date 3 February 2011
Country Viet Nam
Topics Buddhist | Freedom of religion | Religious discrimination | Religious persecution (including forced conversion)
Citation / Document Symbol VNM38054
Cite as Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal, Vietnam: 1. Please provide background information on the Hoa Hao branch of Buddhism, including its history, establishment, core tenets, and philosophy. 2. How does Hoa Hao Buddhism differ from other branches of Buddhism? 3. Please provide information on the demographics of Hoa Hao Buddhism in Vietnam, including total numbers, percentages, location, and predominance. 4. Please provide information on the Ancestral Temple. 5. In what sense are there official as compared to unofficial religious groups in Vietnam? Was Hoa Hao Buddhism officially recognised in Vietnam in 1999? 6. Please provide information on the Hoa Hao Central Buddhist Church (HHCBC). 7. Please provide information on the Hoa Hao Administrative Council, including when and why it was formed, its purpose, and its major achievements. 8. Is there any information about the Hoa Hao Buddhists splitting into 2 groups following suppression of the religion, and were leaders detained? 9. Is the Hoa Hao Buddhist branch seen as a political opposition force to the ruling regime in Vietnam? 10. Do Hoa Hao Buddhists experience any societal discrimination as a result of their religion? 11. Please provide current information on whether Hoa Hao Buddhists have been arrested, detained, or otherwise mistreated by the ruling regime in Vietnam. 12. Is there information on what the local police attitude is towards followers of Hoa Hao? Is there information that government authorities from Ho Chi Minh City will harm/mistreat followers, please provide information on the distinction between the local and the national authorities which might take an interest in the religion. 13. Is there information on authorities seizing or confiscating Hoa Hao properties since the end of the Vietnam War? 14. Is there information to confirm or deny that a government document dated 18 February 1979 laid out a 15-year campaign to exterminate the Hoa Hao Buddhist religion? 15. Is there information to show that the Vietnamese authorities banned the celebration of the Founder's Day Festival (the founder being Huynh Phu So) in 1999 or so? 16. Please provide information on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Hoa Hao at the Ancestral Temple in 1999, whether it was sought to be banned but attracted 1 million attendees. 17. Is there information on two Hoa Hao Buddhists self-immolating in 2005? 18. Is there any information of a court in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap sentencing four Hoa Hao followers to between 4 and 6 years imprisonment for creating public disorder? Is so, please provide information on this. 19. Is there information of a hunger strike in 2006 which relates to the Hoa Hao religion?, 3 February 2011, VNM38054, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4df9ef982.html [accessed 19 May 2023]
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