Thich Dong Quang
Thích Đồng Quảng
Detainment Type: At risk
Other Names: Thích Đồng Quảng, Nguyễn Đức Minh
Date of Birth: September 2, 1972
Gender: M
Religion: Buddhist
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Religious leader
Activist Focus:
- Religious freedom
Details
Background
Thich Dong Quang, a monk from Da Nang province, is living in Kon Tum Province.
Profile photo source: Facebook Ngọc Tuyên Đàm
History of ActivismBefore living in Ngoc Hoi District, Kon Tum Province, Thich Dong Quang built three pagodas in Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces, which were all destroyed by the authorities. He started building Son Linh Pagoda in Kon Tum Province in 2009. Because he wants to maintain his religious autonomy vis-a-vis the authorities and the state-sanctioned Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam, Thich Dong Quang often suffers harassment.
January 11, 2019: pagoda destroyed
On the morning of January 11, 2019, the authorities of Plei Kan Town, Ngoc Hoi District, Kon Tum Province mobilized a powerful force to destroy Linh Tu pagoda while monk Thich Dong Quang was away for medical treatment. No state media reported this news. After being contacted by a citizen, Facebooker Ngoc Tuyen Dam went to the site of the pagoda and published two articles about the incident.
The reason for the destruction was because of the Thich Dong Quang's "disobedience" towards the authorities. He did not accept being under the control of neither state-sanctioned monk Thich Quang Xa, nor Ngoc Hoi district’s authorities. Despite claiming they respected his religious freedom, the authorities kept harassing the pagoda.
August 22, 2020: harassed for commemorating victims of violence based on religion and belief
In the early morning of August 22, 2020, the public security of Pleikần Town swamped the personal home of the Venerable Thich Dong Quang and took down the Buddhist flags and banners showing support for the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
The next day they surrounded his house again and tried to force him to go to a coronavirus quarantine center, even though Quang hadn’t left the town for one month, and Kontum was not considered an infectious area.
The public security threatened him, saying that: “No one can save you, not the US Embassy, not the UN, not the central government in Ha Noi”.
Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:05