(27 Mar 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Catholic demonstrators in front of the court, blocked by riot police
2. Demonstrators in street outside court, passing traffic
3. Mid of demonstrators marching past camera, waving leaves and chanting: (Vietnamese) “Innocent”
4. Pan of riot police surrounding demonstrators
5. Catholic priest arrives, pushed back by security
6. Various of demonstration
7. Close up of picture of Virgin Mary around demonstrator’s neck
8. Mid of Catholic priest
9. Mid of security blocking the entrance to the court
10. Mid of demonstrators walking past the court
11. SOUNDBITE: (Vietnamese) Catholic protester, no name given, Vox pop:
“I hope the trial will be conducted fairly.They are innocent and the government needs to compensate for the loss of honour that those defendants had when being convicted last time.”
12. Wide of demonstrators holding banner and chanting: (Vietnamese) “Innocent”, surrounded by riot police
13. Mid of demonstrators seated singing religious song
STORYLINE
Eight Vietnamese Roman Catholics asked an appeals court on Friday to overturn their convictions for disturbing public order and damaging property during a series of demonstrations last year to demand the return of former church lands.
Hundreds of Catholics and dozens of riot police gathered outside a Hanoi court as the proceedings began, with church members carrying signs and chanting prayers for the eight defendants who were convicted and given light sentences in December.
The defendants argue that they were merely exercising their right to free speech and committed no crime.
Seven received suspended sentences ranging from 12 to 15 months, and another received a warning.
They were all given two years of probation.
The sentences came after a series of mostly peaceful vigils near a parcel of land once owned by Thai Ha Church in Hanoi, worth (m) millions of dollars.
The communist government confiscated the plot several years after taking power from the French in 1954.
It was then given to a state-owned garment factory.
Hanoi authorities say the land belongs to the city, claiming a former parish priest signed papers turning it over in 1962.
Church members insist they have documents that prove the land was never turned over.
Catholics outside the courthouse on Friday morning carried signs saying, “Justice! Truth!” and “You are victims,” and chanted “Innocent!”
A priest speaking through a megaphone urged them to remain calm and warned them not to interfere with the police.
Last year’s vigils were a bold step in a country where church-state relations are often tense and the government frowns on public protests of any kind.
The defendants were arrested after they knocked down a section of the wall surrounding the property and set up an altar and a statue of the Virgin Mary last August.
Authorities then turned the land into a public park.
Last year, Catholics also held vigils at a second valuable parcel of land in central Hanoi, the site of the former Vatican embassy, which closed after the communist government took power.
With more than 6 (m) million followers, Catholicism is the second largest religion after Buddhism among Vietnam’s 86 (m) million people.
Vietnam has often come under international criticism for its record on religious and human rights.
But in recent years, relations between Catholics and the government have begun to improve, emboldening church members to assert themselves more.
Vietnam and the Vatican have been discussing the possibility of re-establishing diplomatic relations.
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Post time: Jun-19-2017