Photo: South China Morning Post
The Bac Kan provincial government stated it had completed the goal of Project No. 78 by eradicating the Duong Van Minh religion in the province.
According to the government, the Duong Van Minh religion was present in five districts, 14 communes, and 19 villages with 899 followers.
In November 2022, the government organized 11 working groups to suppress the Duong Van Minh religion. Since then, many funeral homes and altars in private homes have been removed, and many followers have been forced to sign a document stating that they will abandon this religious organization.
Also, in December 2023, in Bao Lam and Ha Quang Districts of Cao Bang Province, the government held a conference to summarize their two years of implementing Project No. 78 and 34 years of propagandizing and eliminating the Duong Van Minh organization.
According to the Bao Lam District government, as of June 2023, the district had dismantled 85 white backdrops and 7 barrows for people to use in funerals and forced 12,252 households to sign a document renouncing the Duong Van Minh religion.
In Ha Quang District, as of March 2023, the activities of the Duong Van Minh religion have been completely eliminated, and 100% of households have signed a document agreeing not to follow the religion.
In July 2022, the Bac Kan provincial government, for the first time, publicly announced Project No. 78, issued by the government in 2021, to "fight, prevent, and eliminate the illegal organization Duong Van Minh."
The full content of this project has not been announced by the government, but the general goal is to eliminate the Duong Van Minh religion by 2023. Since then, the government has continuously suppressed followers of this religion across the country.
In the northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam, the government believes that the Duong Van Minh religion has plans for self-rule and the establishment of an independent "Hmong State." The suppression of this religion has been severe. Up to now, four provinces have completely eliminated the Duong Van Minh religion, including Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, and Tuyen Quang.
©2024 The Vietnamese Magazine.