ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT BY MR. LE DZUNG, THE SPOKESMAN

OF THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON 18th FEBRUARY 2005

DPA: Please advise Vietnam's reaction to the statement of the International Buddhist Information Bureau claiming that Thich Quang Do had been prevented from traveling to see Thich Huyen Quang to offer new year best wishes?

Answer:

We resolutely reject the fabricated information of the so-called “International Buddhist Information Bureau”.

Currently, Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do are still leading their life and practicing religion in normalcy in Nguyen Thieu Monastery, Binh Dinh province and Thanh Minh Monastery,  Ho Chi Minh City.

The sect “Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam” is no longer in existence in Vietnam. Buddhist organizations in Vietnam have been unified since 1981 and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is the only organization of Vietnamese Buddhist followers. Dignitaries, monks and worship establishments of the “Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam” are now under the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.