[Today’s Prayer] Vietnamese Christians fear persecution due to anti-government uprising

Christians who are ethnic minority in Vietnam, are focusing on the potential repercussions of recent anti-government violence on the Christian community.

According to the Christian Post (CP) in the United States, in the early morning of June 11th, 4 police officers, 2 civil servants and 3 passers-by, were killed by disguised armed groups in Ea Tieu and Eaktur Communes, Quying District, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam's Central Highlands. The suspects reportedly used small arms, grenades and petrol bombs.

"It is believed that a minority tribe called the Montagnards (French for hill tribes - editor's note) is behind the attack and 80% of Vietnam's two million evangelicals Christians are persecuted as minorities,” CP reported Most of the information known to date, comes from small state media outlets, where the Ministry of Public Security has concluded the arrested suspects as "simply youths instigated by delusional extremists via Internet."

Even though Vietnamese government has concluded the minority church were some ethnic churches that have long expressed political grievances as "organizations masquerading as religion”, the official media reported that “contrary to custom, the government is not ruling out the possibility of potential Christian involvement.” Under constant surveillance, the minority churches are prohibited from registering as recognized religious group

Anti-government violence is inexcusable, but the persecution of the minority and alienated Montanand has long gone too far. They have always lost in ongoing land disputes, and the recent tensions have risen between the government and Montanand coffee plantation owners over the confiscation of farmland for highways and urban expansion. Minorities in the region have long lived with severe restrictions on their freedom of speech, assembly and religion. Overt persecution of Christians has decreased in recent years, but it is still occurring. Land expropriation and repression of Christians were a major cause of large and violent uprisings in 2001 and 2004.

In addition, Montanand Christian refugees have become asylum seekers in Cambodia and Thailand after leaving Vietnam for years.

In the past, the government quickly mobilized overwhelming military forces to resolve the situation. Asia News reported that "the violence that occurred on June 14 is spreading, and parts of the Central Highlands have been blocked," but this has not been confirmed by other media outlets.

Radio Free Asia announced that as of 20th of June, more than 70 suspects had been arrested. "Regardless of whether or not they were actually involved in the case, they will undoubtedly pay a significant price," CP said.

On June 22nd, People's Daily published an extensive article with an official explanation, and there was an unusual crackdown on spreading "false information" on social media other than official government statements. Violators have already been fined an excess of $4,000.

CP said, "The government's strong concern can be seen as a result of the sensitive position Vietnam is facing.” They added,

“The main reason for these sanctions is that the government's harsh restrictions on religious freedom for the independent Church of Montanand. The Church of Montanand is dissatisfied with the government's inclination to have more control,"

Source: Christian Today

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)

On June 11th, 4 80% of Vietnam's two million evangelicals Christians are persecuted as minorities, and those who are in oppression are sometimes involved in violence against anti-government.

Vietnam was included in the U.S. State Department's special monitoring list of religious freedom violations in December 2022, and they are making all-out efforts to get out of the list

May there be real and powerful changes for religious freedom in Vietnam, who is ranked 25th in Christian persecution.

We believe that the Vietnamese church, in the midst of persecution, will bless the persecutor and become a powerful church that will be sprinkled on good land and bear fruit 100 times, 60 times, and 30 times as they overcome all darkness with the power of the gospel.

Let us be a church that rises, not in a physical way, but only through the by the power of the Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and transforms Vietnam through the gospel.

Overcoming the limits of minorities, let the church be a witness to all nations and all of Vietnam, with the power of Jesus’ love