Vietnam releases dissident
HANOI -- Vietnam released a prominent Buddhist dissident from house arrest a week after it came under heavy international criticism for jailing
a pro-democracy advocate.
Thich Quang Do, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, is the second highest-ranking leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of
Vietnam. He was freed after two years of house arrest at Thanh Minh Zen Monastery on Friday, the Communist Party newspaper People
reported.
The decision to grant early release to Do, 74, who has been under house arrest since 2001, was made because of ''the Party and State's
humanitarian policies,'' the newspaper said.
Do had been put on two-year probation at his pagoda in June 2001 after announcing plans to escort the patriarch of the church, Thich Huyen
Quang, to Ho Chi Minh City for medical treatment. He was scheduled to be released in September. It wasn't clear if the move was tied to the
intense criticism from abroad after a 35-year-old political dissident, Pham Hong Son, was sentenced to 13 years in jail for translating and
distributing pro-democracy materials over the Internet.
Human rights groups had denounced the sentence, saying it was an example of Hanoi's consistent abuse of political and religious freedoms.
The government maintains it punishes only those who break the law. Yesterday, human rights advocates said they were hopeful that Do's
release signaled a positive change in Vietnam's policies.
''I hope it's not just one move just to silence the international community, but I hope it's a genuine step,'' said Magda Kowalczuk, a
spokeswoman for London-based Amnesty International.
Vo Van Ai, head of the Paris-based International Buddhist Information Bureau, praised the lifting of Do's detention order but cautioned that ''it
is too early to say that he is free.'' Ai said Do planned to continued his peaceful advocacy of religious freedom and human rights in Vietnam.
By Margie Mason - The Associated Press - June 29, 2003
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