Religion and Politics in Vietnam, Cambodia, and LaosSee also Southeast Asia. 1. Brief Introduction 1. Brief Introduction to Religion and Politics in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos Vietnam has a population of over 90.5 million, with a population growth rate of 1.08% (July 2011 est). It had a 2010 HDI ranking of #113 and a 2010 CPI ranking of 2.7. The 1999 Census listed Vietnam as 9.3% Buddhist, 6.7% Catholic, 1.5% Hoa Hao, 1.1% Cao Dai, .5% Protestant, .1% Muslim, and 80.8% none. These figures are problematic, however, since they fail to account for two separate realities. First, the entire culture is traditionally very Confucian, but those values do not appear in the analysis. Second, as a Communist state, there is strong pressure not to list any religious affiliation. Hanson (below) explains the traditional form of Confucian state and Marxist state penetration, regulation, and control of religious organizations. In “moderate” times, religious adherents are faced with the choice of joining a government-approved religious organization or joining an unlawful one and being persecuted. The government recognizes six religions, including the approved Buddhist Church of Vietnam. However, it has outlawed (1981) the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), led by Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do. In radical times, for example, the Cultural Revolution in China, the Confucian-Marxist government hunts all religious believers. As Vietnam has joined the World Trade and other international organizations, the government has been more sensitive to global criticism about human rights abuses against religious organizations. Vietnam followed the Chinese model of economic restructuring with announcement of "doi moi" in 1986. The Communist government gradually encouraged private enterprise, agricultural decollectivization, capital market reforms, and foreign investment. As in China, the Vietnamese economy grew quickly, and the country joined the WTO in 2006. It, like China, has suffered in the global economic downturn. As in China, the government has also recently cracked down on dissent in preparation for the coming Communist Party Congress. In Cambodia Theravada monk Maha Ghosanada led ecumenical peacemaking efforts, based on traditional Buddhist practice, that, with the help of the United Nations, led to a more democratic Cambodia after the horrors of Pol Pot’s “Killing Fields.” Recently, Prime Minister Hun Sen has cracked down on opposition political parties and international organizations supporting democracy. Cambodia had a 2010 HDI ranking of #124 and a 2010 CPI rating of 2.1. Cambodia has a population of approximately 14.7 million, with a growth rate of 1.7% (July 2011 est.) The CIA Report notes that one has to take into account an excessive mortality rate due to AIDS. The 1998 Census listed the country as 96.4% Buddhist, 2.1% Muslim, and 1.3% other. The Lao People's Democratic Republic had a 2010 HDI ranking of #122 and a 2010 CPI rating of 2.1. Laos has a population of nearly 6.5 million, with a 1.7% growth rate (2011 est.) According to the 2005 census, Laos is 67% Buddhist, 1.5% Christian, and 31.5% other and unspecified. There is a strong animist tradition that would be captured in the last figure. 2. A Short Introductory Course to Religion and Politics in Vietnam and Cambodia In the United States, the place to start on Vietnam is The Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University. Hanson places Vietnamese political-religious relationships within the Confucian and Marxist traditions. King discusses Buddhism in national politics during the Vietnam War, and analyzes the thought of Thich Nhat Hanh. Appleby describes Cambodia Theravada monk Maha Ghosanada’s peacemaking. The Vietnam Center and Archive (www.vietnam.ttu.edu) aims at collecting and preserving source materials, educating the public, and fostering scholarly research. Hanson, Eric O., “Vietnam: Catholic Peasant Sectarianism,” in Catholic Politics in China and Korea (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1980), 45-49. King, Sallie B., “Thich Nhat Hanh and the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam: Nondualism in Action,” in Queen, Christopher S., and King, Sallie B., eds. Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia (Albany, NY: SUNY, 1996), 321-63. Appleby, R. Scott, “Charismatic Religious Militancy and Its Limitations: The Case of Cambodia,” in The Ambivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence, and Reconciliation. (New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1999), 123-31. 3. Other Key Resource Materials for Religion and Politics in Vietnam and Cambodia See January-February Asian Survey for annual summaries of politics in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Weiner, Matthew, “Maha Ghosananda as a contemplative social activist,” in in Queen, Christopher, Prebish, Charles, and Keown, Damien. Action Dharma: New Studies in Engaged Buddhism (London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003). This article covers the life story and Buddhist thought of “Cambodia’s Gandhi.” 4. Recent News Articles (a. Vietnam; b. Cambodia; c. Laos): a. Vietnam “Vietnam’s premier meets with Buddhist leader,” San Jose Mercury News, April 3, 2003. Phan Van Khai meets with Thich Huyen Quang, patriarch of outlawed United Buddhist Church of Vietnam. “Unclear evidence on Viet tolerance,” San Jose Mercury News, June 27, 2003. Analysis of religious toleration in Dac Lac, Vietnam’s largest province and Central Highlands area of 40 of 54 ethnic groups. “Buddhist church reports standoff in central Vietnam,” San Jose Mercury News, October 9, 2003. 1,000 Buddhists formed a “human wall” around patriarch Thich Huyen Quang and second highest leader Thich Quang Do of United Buddhist Church. Security officials later insisted they were free to go to Hanoi. “Monk returns home, one pagoda at a time,” San Jose Mercury News, March 31, 2005. Trich Nhat Hahn returns to Vietnam after 40 years to preach “mindfulness.” Hahn, an opponent of the Vietnam War, is based in his home monastery of Plum Village in France and he often preaches in the United States. He left Vietnam on April 11. “Vietnamese Catholics welcome ordinations,” San Jose Mercury News, November 30, 2005. Vatican envoy Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe ordains 57 priests, the largest number ever under the current government. Negotiations between the Vatican and Hanoi continue after the agreed appointments of Archbishops Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man in Ho Chi Minh City in 2003 and Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi in March 2005. “Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) marks 30 years of peaceful struggle,” Buddhist Channel, December 25, 2005. Event in San Gabriel, Ca., organized by UBCV’s overseas office, the Vietnamese American Unified Congress in the USA, and its official information service, the Paris-based International Buddhist Information Service. “Vietnam’s Deep-Rooted Corruption Threatens Development,” New York Times, May 7, 2006. Corruption in Business, State, and Party. "Holy See, Vietnam officials discuss normalization of diplomatic ties," Asia Focus, March 16, 2007. Vatican report on six-day visit to Vietnam headed by Holy See's "deputy foreign minister" Pietro Parolin. The delegation held "working sessions" with the Vietnamese Committee for Religious Affairs, led by Nguyen The Doanh. The Committee released a new document, Religion and Policies Regarding Religion on February 1. Pope Benedict XVI met with Vietnam's Prime Ministser Nguyen Tan Dung on January 25. "Vietnam hands priest 8-year prison sentence," San Jose Mercury News, April 3, 2007. The democracy activist Reverand Nguyen Van Ly, 60, was charged with plotting to merge his Vietnam Progression Party with overseas activists. Others were sentenced to lesser prison terms. "Vietnamese church aims to foster China, Vatican understanding," National Catholic Reporter, November 2, 2007. Report on trip of Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Ho Chi Minh City to China, September 24-28, at the invitation of the State Administration for Religious Affairs. Man advocated Beijing-Vatican cooperation and letting some Chinese bishops attend the 2008 meetings of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences and the Synod of Bishops. Man's great-grandfather emigrated from Guangdong. "Pope to send message to congress," Asia Focus, June 20, 2008. Vatican delegation, led by Mons. Pietro Parolin, undersecretary for relations with states, meets with government officials for the 15th in a series of working visits since 1990. Dialogue focused on return of church property, episcopal nominations, and other issues. Delegation visited national shrine of Our Lady of La Vang on June 13, whose property had been promised return by provincial government (Bureau of Religious Affairs, on March 12). Pope promised personal message for this year's Aug. 13-15 Marian Congress, held every three years. "Patriarch of banned Vietnamese church dies," San Jose Mercury News, July 6, 2008. Thich Huyen Quang, patriarch of UBCV, died at 87. Church's deputy leader, Thich Quang Do, 80, broke out of house arrest at his monastery to be with the dying leader. "Inflation Delivers a Blow To Vietnam's Spirits," New York Times, August 24, 2008. Vietnam suffers major inflation, impact on seasonal offerings to the dead as example. "Religion returned to Vietnam along with free commerce." "Vietnamese Activist's Call for Democracy Draws Unusually Wide Public Support," New York Times, April 3, 2011. Cu Huy Ha Vu, 53, is the son of a colleague of Ho Chi Minh and a law graduate of the Sorbonne. Although not a Catholic, he has taken a stand in defense of Catholics arrested for taking part in a funeral at a cemetery on land claimed by the government. Interview with Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man, Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, National Catholic Reporter, June 24, 2011. b. Cambodia “Cambodian Leader Cracks Down in Bid to Solidify Power,” New York Times, January 9, 2006. Prime Minister Hun Sen stifles the human rights community. "Pilgrimages for Peace," America (February 11, 2008): 19-21. Interview with former Jesuit brother Bob Maat, who served as a physician's assistant and helped found the Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation. "Prison Term for Khmer Rough Jailer Leaves Many Dissatisfied," New York Times, July 27, 2010. First conviction of a major Khmer Rouge leader in 1.7 million deaths, 1975-79. The commandent of the central prison and torture house received 35 years from the U.N.-backed court. Country has no death penalty, but dissatisfaction by some as too weak. Trial of four more defendents coming up. Pol Pot died in 1998, and many Cambodians are too young to remember period, so court has advertised its actions. c. Laos August 18, 2011. |
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