Officials Hinder Trial Preparations

(Compass) – Vietnamese officials are hindering attempts to prepare the defence of six Mennonite church workers scheduled for a November 12 trial. The refusal of the court to give the written order for the trial to the family members of the prisoners is a violation of article 182 of Vietnam ’s criminal code. However, the families were allowed to listen to a reading of the indictment, after which they were asked to sign papers saying that they had received it. The indictment indicates that all six are included in the same March 2 incident and charged with “resisting officers doing their duty.” Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang is charged in the indictment with inciting the others to resist. Observers believe the fact that Quang is apparently not charged with more serious “crimes” involving his documentation and publication of numerous human rights and religious liberty violations is due to the considerable international attention the case has drawn.