Zen Master’s followers violently beaten and evicted

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Zen Master’s followers violently beaten and evicted

Today, at 09:45 local time (03:45 GMT), a 150-strong, unidentified mob descended on Prajna Monastery, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, and violently evicted the 379 resident monastic followers of Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Government officials are refusing to intervene and local police appear to be involved.

Excessive violence was used against unarmed, non-resisting, peaceable monks and nuns, in flagrant breach of all internationally-recognized principles of human rights:

A 150-strong mob, believed to include plain-clothes policemen, descended on the monastery in the small hours of the morning, breaking down the doors of the monks’ residence, and forcing their way into the building. Uniformed police were seen setting-up roadblocks, preventing anyone from approaching.

The mob attacked the monks, who were at this time sitting down wearing their sanghatis [formal saffron robes] and chanting. The brothers, committed to a non-violent response, made no attempt to defend themselves. The mob singled out the two most senior monks, Phap Hoi and Phap Tu, dragging them in their sanghatis, across the concrete into the torrential rain outside.

The mob proceeded to violently evict the monks and aspirants from the building. Each one was body-searched and all cameras and mobile phones confiscated – depriving them of the only means of contact with the world outside since the police cut phone lines in June. The monks few possessions were flung from all three floors into the courtyard below.

30 monks seem to have been separated from the main group and are being held within the monastery.

Another 50 monks were violently herded into the back of a construction truck and 3 taxis. One novice was throttled; another young aspirant bleeding from blows inflicted. They have been abducted and it is not known where they have been taken.

The violent mob then moved on to the sisters’ hamlets. At the Mountain Cloud Hamlet the mob smashed down the doors and violently evicted about 100 resident nuns and aspirants. The sisters were force-marched down hill out of the monastery; some slipped in the rain and were beaten where they fell.

The mob attempted forced entry of the second sisters’ hamlet, but have so far failed to break down the front door. As of 17:40pm the sisters were still inside.

CONTACT:

Brother Trung Hai, senior dharma teacher from Prajna monastery, in Plum Village Practice Centre France since 21 June: Cell + 33 688 438 509 or + 33 5.53.73.39.24

Mr Loc, lay community member of Order of Interbeing currently in Bao Loc , Vietnam : + 84 938 232 330 (Vietnamese speaking)

In 2005 the monks and nuns were invited by the Abbot of Prajna Monastery, with Central Government approval, to live and practice there according to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. In June 2008, the abbot said he was under pressure from the government (specifically from the religious police and from The Government Committee for Religious Affairs) not to sponsor the monks and nuns to stay there any longer.. The situation has since deteriorated, and the monastery was subjected to threats of violence. In an earlier mob attack, on 29 June this year, property was confiscated and destroyed and huts burned.

See earlier stories:

ASSOCIATED PRESS: “Tensions Rise As Police Question Monks Followers” – BEN STOCKING (Sept. 09) http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/09/22/3299207-tensions-rise-as-police-question-monks-followers
BBC NEWS: “Attack on Vietnam Monastery” (July 2009) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8168200.stm