This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7501092.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Vietnamese dissident laid to rest | Vietnamese dissident laid to rest |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The funeral of leading Vietnamese Buddhist dissident Thich Huyen Quang has gone ahead under tight security. | The funeral of leading Vietnamese Buddhist dissident Thich Huyen Quang has gone ahead under tight security. |
Hundreds of monks and believers had gathered outside a pagoda at the Nguyen Thieu monastery in central Vietnam for the ceremony. | Hundreds of monks and believers had gathered outside a pagoda at the Nguyen Thieu monastery in central Vietnam for the ceremony. |
Thich Huyen Quang, who was 87, had spent most of the last three decades in prison or under house arrest. | |
He led the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, which refused to submit to communist government control. | He led the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, which refused to submit to communist government control. |
The BBC's Nga Pham, in Bangkok, says that his death raises questions about who will take over as head of the Vietnamese dissident Buddhist movement. | The BBC's Nga Pham, in Bangkok, says that his death raises questions about who will take over as head of the Vietnamese dissident Buddhist movement. |
Crowds of supporters had gathered early outside the Nguyen Thieu monastery to bid farewell to their spiritual leader, who died last week after a long illness. | Crowds of supporters had gathered early outside the Nguyen Thieu monastery to bid farewell to their spiritual leader, who died last week after a long illness. |
Tight security | Tight security |
Tensions were high around the pagoda where the funeral was to be held, with plainclothes police monitoring UBCV monks, Paris-based supporters told the Associated Press news agency. | Tensions were high around the pagoda where the funeral was to be held, with plainclothes police monitoring UBCV monks, Paris-based supporters told the Associated Press news agency. |
Thich Huyen Quang was first arrested in 1977 after he publicly criticised the communist regime for suppressing religious freedom. | Thich Huyen Quang was first arrested in 1977 after he publicly criticised the communist regime for suppressing religious freedom. |
He spent most of the next 30 years under house arrest, but continued to call for human rights and political reforms in Vietnam. | He spent most of the next 30 years under house arrest, but continued to call for human rights and political reforms in Vietnam. |
Nobel laureates including the Dalai Lama appealed for his release. | Nobel laureates including the Dalai Lama appealed for his release. |
Thich Huyen Quang's Unified Buddhist Church was banned in 1981 after refusing to join the religious movement sanctioned by Vietnam's Communist Party leaders. | Thich Huyen Quang's Unified Buddhist Church was banned in 1981 after refusing to join the religious movement sanctioned by Vietnam's Communist Party leaders. |
He leaves a large gap for the church to fill, our correspondent says. |
Previous version
1
Next version