Government officials in southern Vietnam have reportedly demolished more than 100 homes in a predominantly Catholic area. According to UCA News, the people of Loc Hu’ng in Tay Ninh province are mostly Catholic and were given minimal warnings about the demolitions.
Apart from houses, a church-run home for disabled war veterans was also destroyed.
On January 8, the veterans were told by police to pack their belongings and immediately clear the area before they started knocking down buildings. They said no notice about the demolition was given. Some veterans were unable to take their crutches and prosthetics.
One veteran said the police offered to give them US$86 each to move to police stations. However, the veterans refused the offer as they do not trust the police.
Most of the veterans went to the Redemptorists’ monastery for help.
State-run Tuoi tre newspaper said Tan Binh district authorities “completely knocked down 112 illegally built houses.” District officials accusing local people of trading the land illegally and said the government planned to use the land to build schools and public facilities.
Other media reports said about 300 police officers were dispatched for the operation.