International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941
Washington, DC 20006-1846
www.persecution.org
Email: icc@persecution.org

-Death Toll Rises In Vietnam-
-Victim Names Start To Filter Out--

-ICC Asks, “Where Does Vietnam’s Staunchest Senate Ally, Presidential Candidate John Kerry
Stand On The Murder of Innocents By His Friend, The Vietnamese Government?”

 You are free to disseminate the following news. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address www.persecution.org.

 The Washington DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org, has received new information concerning the death toll of Christians murdered by Vietnamese authorities in an Easter crackdown.  ICC has been informed through reliable sources that the number of those dead has now risen to 280, and 26 people continue to remain missing. In addition, information is slowly leaking from the sealed off area, and we have now attained the names and villages of 41 of the dead.

 Since April 10^th of this year when the attacks occurred, information has been slow in coming because the Vietnamese government quickly sealed off the area and has not allowed any communication to the region where the attacks occurred. It was on Easter Sunday that these Christians were attacked and killed after peacefully demonstrating for religious freedom, an end to the confiscation of their lands, and an end to the abuse suffered at the hands of the Vietnamese authorities.

 It is expected that the death toll will continue to rise and that the final tallies will be significantly higher than they are now. However, the information has been, and will continue to be, slow in coming.  Originally, Vietnamese authorities were not allowing press into the area but they have since relented. 

 The Vietnamese government is now allowing controlled access tours to “safe” villages; however, it has remained difficult to learn the truth of what happened because of the quick response of the Vietnamese government to cover their steps.  They have learned from previous experience that if a story is suppressed long enough it will disappear.   

 Vietnam has two very strong allies in the US Senate.  In the past, Sen. John McCain and Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, have blocked past attempts to hold Vietnam accountable for its human rights abuses. 

ICC calls on Presidential candidate John Kerry to address this issue and tell the American public where he stands on the murder of innocent Christians by our “friends.

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US Church regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.