Dien Bien joins hands to repel evil cults (4)

Lesson 3: United in repelling heresy

Lesson 2: Making propaganda the key

Lesson 1: The Nature of Heresy

Party committees and authorities at all levels have always paid attention to and created favorable conditions for religious groups to register for centralized activities in accordance with regulations.

Ensuring appropriate policies and regulations for people of religious faith.

During the 2022 Christmas season, the Nậm Pồ District Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee divided into several delegations to visit, encourage, and present gifts to 96 religious groups in the district . Through these visits, district leaders acknowledged and highly appreciated the contributions of these religious groups, their leaders, and parishioners to the overall development of the district. They also expressed their hope that religious leaders, officials, group leaders, and parishioners would continue to uphold the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and participate in building national unity.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Nam Po District Party Committee, said: “Nam Po has over 60,000 inhabitants, of which nearly 50% are religious. Every year during Christmas, the district assigns teams to visit and offer congratulations, while also encouraging people to live a virtuous life and fulfill their civic duties. Without discrimination between religious and non-religious people, we always implement all policies and regulations equally, fairly, objectively, and impartially. We also effectively implement ethnic policies, social welfare, and healthcare policies to improve the material and spiritual quality of life for people of all ethnic groups.”

Along with disseminating and educating the public on legal matters, in recent times, local Party committees and authorities have seriously implemented the motto "closely follow the local area, be close to the people," supporting people in developing family economies and eradicating poverty. Localities in the province have focused on leading and directing the effective implementation of national target programs on socio-economic development and improving people's lives. They have effectively implemented social security policies, ethnic policies, and healthcare for the people, while promoting the tradition of compassion and kindness, preserving traditional customs and values, and combating outdated customs, superstitions, and social evils. In particular, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dien Bien province directed agencies, units, and localities to strengthen propaganda on disease prevention and control to religious organizations, dignitaries, and followers; Regularly communicate with leaders of religious organizations, affiliated religious organizations, religious dignitaries, and group leaders to exchange information, provide guidance, and monitor religious activities in accordance with the law. In addition, provide support in terms of essential supplies, medical equipment, food, and address legitimate requests and needs of religious organizations and individuals according to regulations at the relevant levels and sectors.

Having once been misled by the "Ba Co Do" cult, but after being thoroughly informed and educated by local authorities and law enforcement about the true nature of the cult as nothing but lies and deception, the family of Mr. Sung A Thanh, from Huoi Khon 2 village, Nam Ke commune, Muong Nha district, no longer believes in the cult. Mr. Thanh shared: “I went online and listened to the propaganda of ‘Auntie Do,’ who claimed that anyone who followed her wouldn’t need to work in the fields or raise livestock, and would still receive money, and that after death they would go to heaven to live happily. Blindly believing those deceptive words, my family’s life became increasingly difficult and impoverished. Fortunately, thanks to the officials who explained that we are Vietnamese citizens, must abide by the law, and believe in the legitimate religion of Vietnam, my family and I have abandoned this cult. We have also received support from the Party and the State in all aspects of life, enjoying the same benefits and policies as other people; now, we only focus on doing business and developing the economy.”

Implementing the policy of eliminating dilapidated temporary housing for the people, localities in the province have focused on supporting the construction of houses for many religious communities under the Program for Building Houses for Poor Households, part of the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, and the Project to Mobilize Support for Building Solidarity Houses for Poor Households in the province, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory… Local Party committees have focused on building the Party among religious communities, paying attention to admitting religious people into the Party. As a result, many have gained trust and held important positions in local government organizations; becoming key figures and "bridges" between local Party committees, governments, and religious communities.

Leaders of the Muong Cha District Party Committee visited, encouraged, and presented gifts to religious groups in the area on the occasion of Christmas.

These actions demonstrated fairness and objectivity, instilling confidence in religious followers. This helped them strengthen their faith, fostering unity and cooperation with the leadership and guidance of local Party committees and authorities in religious activities; encouraging them to actively and voluntarily raise their awareness, preventing them from being exploited or lured into cults or violating the law.

Creating conditions for people to practice their religion.

As of May 31, 2023, Dien Bien province had 81,586 people following four religions: Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Vietnam, residing in 644 villages, hamlets, and residential areas across 117 communes, wards, and towns in all 10 districts, towns, and cities; their activities are conducted at 445 religious groups. To meet the legitimate religious needs of a segment of the population, as well as the activities of religious organizations and their leaders in accordance with the law, in recent years, Party committees and authorities at all levels have consistently paid attention to, facilitated, and guided the legitimate religious needs of religious leaders, officials, organizations, and groups, creating conditions for religious activities to take place normally and stably. Respecting the people's freedom of belief and religion , the Party committees, government, departments, and functional forces have seriously implemented the Law on Belief and Religion and related regulations.

According to Mr. Le Dinh Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Affairs: In 2014, Dien Bien province approved the establishment of the Dien Bien Provincial Buddhist Association of Vietnam; in 2016, it approved the establishment of Dien Bien Parish by the Hung Hoa Diocese. Local authorities have approved 389 out of 445 religious groups to hold concentrated religious activities. From 2018 to the present, Dien Bien province has approved religious organizations to open 26 religious training courses and retreats for 3,619 religious leaders, officials, and followers; and received and processed 437 administrative procedures related to religion. The province has also given approval for the Dien Bien Provincial Buddhist Association to invest in the construction of several spiritual and cultural projects in the districts of Muong Ang, Dien Bien Dong, Tuan Giao, Muong Lay town, and for the construction of a church in Dien Bien Parish. Facilitating religious organizations to carry out activities such as ordination, transfer, appointment, and training of religious officials and clergy, as well as organizing ceremonies and sermons outside places of worship, especially during major religious holidays such as the Buddhist festival of the Bauhinia flower season, Buddha's birthday, and the Vu Lan festival; and Christmas and Easter for Catholics and Protestants... in accordance with the law. Thanks to the attention, care, and unity of religions by the Party committees and authorities at all levels in the province, the spiritual lives of religious officials and followers have improved, and the legitimate needs of people regarding their beliefs and religions, and religious activities, have been ensured.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Nam Po District Party Committee, along with representatives from local departments and agencies, visited, encouraged, and presented gifts to religious groups in the area on the occasion of Christmas 2022.

After about six years of propaganda and persuasion to understand the true nature of the "Ba Co Do" cult as an illegal activity, all three households in Muong Cha district have abandoned this cult and committed to returning to practicing the recognized religious sect from July 27, 2023. Chang A Sung, from Co Dua village, Na Sang commune, who was formerly the "group leader" in charge of households following the "Ba Co Do" cult in the district, has also "awakened". Mr. Sung said: “In 2017, through social media, I learned about the “Ba Co Do” cult. After researching it around January 2018, I followed this cult. By 2023, I realized that the content and methods of propaganda of the “Ba Co Do” cult were not in line with the customs and traditions of the Mong ethnic group and some doctrines and laws of religions recognized by the State. On the other hand, I noticed that the lives of families following the “Ba Co Do” cult were not very prosperous, but rather filled with discord and increasing poverty… Therefore, my family and I abandoned the “Ba Co Do” cult. Now, the Party and the State have shown concern and created conditions for religions to operate and religious activities to take place normally and stably, so everyone should strictly abide by religious regulations and be vigilant, not believing or listening to the propaganda of cults.” "The 'Auntie's Wife' sect again..."

The approval of the establishment of affiliated religious organizations and the issuance of certificates of registration for centralized religious activities to religious groups have met the legitimate and lawful religious needs of the vast majority of religious leaders and followers; contributing to limiting the influence and manipulation of malicious individuals following heretical sects. This also demonstrates the consistent stance of the Party, the State, and all levels of government in always respecting and guaranteeing the freedom of belief and religion of the people; paying attention to implementing religious policies, gradually meeting the legitimate and lawful needs of believers, religious leaders, and religious organizations. The attention and support provided by Dien Bien province have contributed to strengthening the faith of religious followers in the leadership role of the Party and the management and administration of the State; contributing to building Dien Bien province into an increasingly strong and stable province in terms of national defense and security.

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