Another reader recalled that Vietnam had suffered great losses caused by the prolonged wars in the past and that millions of people had sacrificed their lives to protect the country. Against this background, the archbishop’s statement is unacceptable and he does not deserve to be a Vietnamese citizen.

81-year old Do The Nhan, a war veteran in Kham Thien ward, Dong Da district said that he and millions of other people have devoted their lives to defending and building the country and they all feel like being insulted by Kiet’s statement. Kiet should have asked himself what did he do for the nation? If Kiet felt ashamed of being a Vietnamese citizen, he should not be in the country. Vietnamese people are also ashamed of having such a citizen and are very glad to know that the Hanoi City People’s Committee has given a written warning to Kiet, accusing him of having assisted in illegal activities to disturb public order and defy the law.

Tieu Phi Quang, also from Hanoi, was very indignant at Kiet’s statement. He said, “As a Vietnamese citizen, I have visited most of the former battlefields and fully understand the courage and sacrifice of Vietnamese soldiers and other patriots who laid down their lives to bring peace as today. What did Kiet do for his country? Where did he eat? Where did he drink?”, Where did he breathe? Did he know that how he could enjoy a peaceful life today? He is not worthy of being a Vietnamese citizen.”

“From my point of view,” he added, “every religion teaches people to be good but he has made use of such good things to do harm to national unity.”

Thanh Tam, another resident in Hanoi (email: trinhthanh38@yahoo.com) said that the spokesperson for Hanoi diocese’s Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, has shown his true colours by hurting all Vietnamese people including Catholics.  There is no denying that after Kiet became a priest from his denominational school, millions of Vietnamese young people and young Catholics voluntarily went to the front to fight against the foreign invaders for complete national independence.

Do Hai, 75-year-old war veteran in Hanoi said Kiet’s statement is unacceptable. How could a well-educated person, a Vietnamese citizen and a Catholic dignitary like Kiet speak like that. Vietnamese citizens have been internationally recognized as national heroes in the struggle against foreign aggression. Kiet's act of defying the law should be punished.

Residents have their say

On September 21, bishops and followers continued holding prayer vigils at 42 Nha Chung, disrupting traffic flows and causing social disorder.

Nguyen Thi Dau, a war veteran living in Chuong Duong ward, Long Bien district, said that the diocese’s demand for land is groundless and unjustifiable.

“Holding prayer vigils there is a lawless activity, as the land belonged to the State management after the French colonialists were defeated in 1954,” said Mrs Dau.

Dao Dinh Huan, a war veteran living in Hang Buom Ward, Hoan Kiem District, expressed his indignation at Archbishop Kiet’s statement.

“It is unimaginable that such a superior leader of Hanoi diocese said that he feels shameful when holding the Vietnamese passport abroad. I think that it is him who is not eligible to bear the Vietnamese citizenship.”

A local resident living on Nha Chung Street said, “Land belongs to the State and we are ready to hand it over to the State if the State feels the need.”

As an excuse for their actions, Hanoi diocese and Thai Ha parish have insisted they want the land back to build hostels for poor university students. However, their explanation has received no support from the students who said the building of hostels must follow the city’s zoning plan, not rely on the subjective view of one person. They said they would not lend a helping hand to the wrongful acts of the Hanoi diocese and Thai Ha parish.

Over the past few days, many volunteer students and young people have joined hands to build a green park at 42 Nha Chung Street in line with a decision recently adopted by the Municipal People’s Committee. They said they did not agree with Hanoi diocese’s lawless acts attempting to incite Catholics to cause social disorder and disrupt traffic flows.

“Hanoi diocese cannot say that it demands land to build hostels for poor students because it does not represent students like us,” said an anonymous volunteer student.