Viet Nam on Feb. 1 released a white book on religion, affirming that it has consistently implemented an unswerving policy of great national unity without any discrimination on the basis of belief or religion.
Nguyen The Doanh, Standing Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religion, said at a press briefing that followers of religious sects make up an integral part of the entire nation and the Government has worked out relevant policies to meet their spiritual needs..
The White Book on Religion and Policies regarding religion in
He quoted the book as saying that the Governments policy on great national unity with a goal of a prosperous people, strong country and an equal, democratic and civilised society has created a firm ground to mobilise people of different religious sects around the common cause.
He admitted that due to gaps of development between geographical areas and a lack of proper understanding about religion among local authorities, policies on religion have not yet been fully observed in some places and at some moments in
The Government Committee on Religion has held thousands of training courses for local authorities and clerics on religious policies and issued hundreds of thousands of publications explaining these policies, including those published in languages of ethnic minorities such as Khmer and Hoa.
These efforts have contributed to gradually solve the problem, said the Government official on religious affairs.
He also cited two other documents on religion, namely an ordinance on belief and religion which came into force on
These documents have clearly determined the rights and obligations of individuals and religious organisations as well as responsibility of State management agencies in ensuring the formers rights and obligations.
The three-chapter White Book presents an overview of beliefs and religions in
Also in the book are Vietnamese achievements in implementing relevant policies and laws, thus managing to encourage religious followers to contribute to national development.
The book also reflects the Vietnamese Governments positions on international relations of religions and achievements recorded by local religions in expanding ties with foreign partners.
Protestanism arrived in the late 19th century, the latest out of four foreign religions brought to
Caodaism and Hoa Hao Buddism were founded in
Doanh added that the Government is to recognise two more religious this year, the Pure Land Buddhist Home-Practice Association and the Tu An Hieu Nghia religion, with a combined over 2 million followers.
(Source: VNA)
