Hanoi Catholics hold vigil after marching onto former church property

Published: 2008-01-30

HANOI, Vietnam (CNS) -- Catholics have maintained a round-the-clock prayer vigil on the grounds of the former apostolic nunciature in Hanoi after about 2,000 Catholics marching for its return forced their way into the compound. Singing hymns, playing musical instruments and accompanied by 100 priests Jan. 25, demonstrators marched and prayed outside the iron fence of the compound, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. But trouble started when Marie Nguyen Thi Nhi, a Muong ethnic woman in traditional attire, climbed over the fence and walked with a bouquet of flowers toward a replica of Michelangelo's "Pieta" in front of the nunciature. Security personnel and plainclothes police intercepted Nhi before she reached the statue. They struck her and dragged her to the former nunciature. Le Quoc Quan, a lawyer who jumped the fence to help her, also was caught. He was taken to the building and beaten by 10 security officials. Others who had scaled the fence broke down a small gate leading to the building. They argued for an hour with security and police officials before the woman and lawyer were released and taken to the Hanoi archbishop's house nearby for medical care.

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