HANOI – Human rights activists have criticized Vietnam’s sentencing of six ethnically Khmer Buddhist monks and three religious activists to prison terms, accusing the government of violating religious freedom. The court in Long An province handed down sentences ranging from two to six years on charges of “abusing democratic freedoms” and “illegally detaining people,” according to a police statement issued on November 28.
Among those sentenced was Khmer Krom Buddhist monk Thach Chanh Da Ra, who received the longest term of six years. Authorities claimed he had instructed his followers to detain and assault local officials who attempted to search his temple, though the reasons for the search and the monks’ resistance remain unclear.
Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA), denounced the sentences, calling them “outrageous and unacceptable.” He added that the trial represented a broader effort to suppress the Khmer Krom people’s right to practice their religion, language, and culture without government interference.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. State Department recently highlighted concerns over religious freedom in Vietnam, marking it as a significant human rights issue in its 2023 report.