ICC Note: The Communist government in Vietnam strongly opposes the Christian faith. Therefore, it is to no surprise that four thousand Christians were met with opposition as they led an anti-pollution protest. The contamination of 70 tons of fish from waste dumped into the sea has affected hundreds of families. The protest was executed as an attempt to put an end to this fish-related environmental disaster. 

08/23/2016 Ky Anh, Vietnam (Christian Post): Four thousand Catholics from the town of Ky Anh in Vietnam were beaten by police after they led an anti-pollution protest against the government, following the contamination of 70 tons of fish from waste dumped into the sea.

Asia News reports that the Christians were protesting against a fish-related environmental disaster that has gripped the country and threatens to leave hundreds of fishing families hungry.

After nearly 70 tons of fish died allegedly because of pollution caused by Formosa Plastic Group, a steel company that dumped waste into the sea, Christian fishing families affected by the pollution marched at municipal offices in Ky Anh town, but were blocked and beaten by police barricades, leaving several people injured by truncheon blows.

Phuong, one of the protesters identified in the report, said: “On Aug. 15 we decided to march to the offices of the town but the police had blocked all access to the highway.”

The protester added: “Some protesters tried to climb the barricades but they were repelled. Police used batons to beat people, and a woman was injured.”

Ky Anh officials are denying that police used violence, however, and argued that people were injured because of the size of the crowd that had gathered.

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