Lesson 3: Unite to repel evil

Lesson 2: Propaganda is the key

Lesson 1: The nature of evil

Ensure policies and regimes for religious people

On the occasion of Christmas 2022, the District Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee of Nam Po district divided into many delegations to visit, encourage, and present gifts to 96 religious groups in the area . Through that, the district leaders acknowledged and highly appreciated the contributions of religious groups, dignitaries, and parishioners to the overall development of the district; at the same time, they hoped that the dignitaries, officials, heads and deputy heads of groups and religious people would continue to well implement the Party's guidelines, policies, and laws of the State, and participate in building the great national unity bloc.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Standing Deputy Secretary of Nam Po District Party Committee, said: “Nam Po has more than 60,000 people, of which nearly 50% are religious. Every year on Christmas, the district assigns groups to congratulate and share joy, combined with mobilizing people to live a “good life, good religion” and seriously fulfill their civic duties. Regardless of whether they are religious or not, we always implement all regimes and policies equally, consistently, objectively and impartially, as well as effectively implement ethnic policies, social security, and health care for the people to improve the quality of material and spiritual life for people of all ethnic groups.”

Along with the work of propaganda, dissemination and legal education for people, in recent times, local Party committees and authorities have seriously implemented the motto of "sticking close to the locality, being close to the people", supporting people to develop family economy, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty. Localities in the province have focused on leading and directing the effective implementation of national target programs on socio-economic development, improving people's lives. Well implementing social security policies, ethnic policies, taking care of people's health and promoting the tradition of humanity, affection, preserving good customs and traditions while eliminating bad customs, superstitions, disasters and social evils. In particular, during the Covid-19 epidemic, Dien Bien province directed agencies, units and localities to strengthen propaganda work on epidemic prevention to religious organizations, dignitaries and followers; Regularly contact leaders of religious organizations, affiliated religious organizations, dignitaries, and group leaders to discuss and guide, grasp the situation of religious activities and activities according to the provisions of law. Along with that, pay attention to and support necessities, medical supplies, food, and foodstuffs as well as resolve the recommendations and legitimate needs of religious organizations and individuals according to the management level and sector in accordance with regulations.

Having once gone astray following the evil cult "Ba Co Do", but after being thoroughly informed and explained by the local government and functional forces about the nature of the evil cult being nothing more than lies and deception, the family of Mr. Sung A Thanh, Huoi Khon 2 village, Nam Ke commune, Muong Nhe district, no longer believes in the evil cult. Mr. Thanh shared: “I went online to listen to “Auntie Do” propagandize that whoever follows her does not need to farm or raise livestock, but will still have people sending money back to them, and after death they will go to heaven to live happily. Because of blindly believing those lies, my family’s life became more and more miserable and deprived. Fortunately, thanks to the propaganda of cadres who said that we are Vietnamese citizens, must obey the law and believe in the orthodox religion of Vietnam, my family and I gave up and no longer believe in evil religions. We are also supported by the Party and the State in all aspects of life, and enjoy the same policies and regimes as other people; now, we only care about doing business and developing the economy.”

Implementing the policy of eliminating dilapidated temporary houses for people, localities in the province have focused on supporting the construction of houses for many religious people according to the Program of building houses for poor households under the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction and the Project of mobilizing support for building Great Unity houses for poor households in the province towards the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory... Local Party Committees have focused on Party building among religious people, paying attention to admitting religious people to the Party. Thanks to that, many people have been trusted and held important positions in local government organizations; becoming the core, "bridge" between local Party Committees, government and religious people.

These actions have demonstrated fairness and objectivity, bringing confidence to religious people. Thereby helping them strengthen their confidence to agree with the leadership and direction of local authorities in religious activities; actively and voluntarily raise their awareness, not being taken advantage of by bad people, luring them into participating in evil religions or violating the law.

Create conditions for people to practice religion

As of May 31, 2023, in Dien Bien province, there were 81,586 people following 4 religions: Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism and the Vietnam Seventh-day Adventist Church in 644 villages, hamlets, residential groups, belonging to 117 communes, wards, and towns in 10/10 districts, towns, and cities; practicing at 445 group points. In order to meet the legitimate needs of religious activities of a part of the people following religions as well as the activities of religious organizations and dignitaries according to the provisions of law, in recent years, Party committees and authorities at all levels have always paid attention to, created favorable conditions to guide, and resolved the legitimate religious and belief needs of dignitaries, officials, religious organizations and group points, creating conditions for religious activities to take place normally and stably. Respecting the people's freedom of belief and religion , the Party Committee, government, departments, branches and functional forces have seriously implemented the Law on Belief and Religion and related regulations.

Mr. Le Dinh Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, said: In 2014, Dien Bien province approved the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to establish the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Dien Bien province; in 2016, it approved the Hung Hoa Diocese to establish the Dien Bien Parish. The local authorities have approved 389/445 religious groups to gather. From 2018 to present, Dien Bien province has approved religious organizations to open 26 religious training classes and retreats for 3,619 dignitaries, officials, and followers; received and processed 437 administrative procedures related to religion. The province also approved the policy for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Dien Bien province to invest in building a number of spiritual cultural projects in the districts of Muong Ang, Dien Bien Dong, Tuan Giao, Muong Lay town, and the Dien Bien Parish to build churches. Create conditions for religious organizations to carry out activities of ordination, promotion, transfer, appointment, training of dignitaries, officials, organize ceremonies, preach outside of places of worship, especially during major religious holidays, such as: Buddhist festival of Ban flower season, Buddha's birthday, Vu Lan festival; Christmas, Easter of Catholics and Protestants... according to the provisions of law. Thanks to the attention, care, and solidarity of religions of the Party Committees and authorities at all levels in the province, the spiritual life of dignitaries and followers has improved, the legitimate needs of people for belief and religion and religious activities have been ensured.

After about 6 years of propaganda and mobilization to understand the nature of the "Ba Co Do" cult as an illegal activity, 3/3 households in Muong Cha district have abandoned the cult recently and committed to returning to practicing according to the recognized religious sect from July 27, 2023. Mr. Chang A Sung, Co Dua village, Na Sang commune, who used to be the "group leader" in charge of households following the "Ba Co Do" cult in the district, has also "awakened". Mr. Sung said: “In 2017, through social networking sites, I learned about the “Ba Co Do” cult. After learning about it around January 2018, I believed in this cult. By 2023, I realized that the propaganda content and propaganda methods of the “Ba Co Do” cult were not consistent with the customs and practices of the Mong ethnic group and some of the religious teachings and laws recognized by the State. On the other hand, I realized that the lives of families following the “Ba Co Do” cult were not very well off but were in turmoil and increasingly poor… Therefore, my family and I abandoned the “Ba Co Do” cult. Now, the Party and the State have paid attention and created conditions for religions to operate, religious activities to take place normally and stably, so everyone should strictly follow religious activities according to regulations and be vigilant not to believe or listen to the propaganda of the cult. "Auntie" religion too...".

The approval of the establishment of affiliated religious organizations and the granting of certificates of registration for centralized religious activities to religious groups has met the legitimate and legal religious needs of the majority of dignitaries and followers; contributing to limiting the influence and enticement of bad elements to follow heretical religions. This also demonstrates the consistent viewpoint of the Party, State, and authorities at all levels to always respect and ensure the freedom of belief and religion of the people; pay attention to implementing religious policies, gradually meeting the legitimate and legal needs of believers, dignitaries, and religious organizations. The attention and facilitation of Dien Bien province have contributed to strengthening the faith of religious followers in the leadership role of the Party and the management and administration of the State; contributing to building Dien Bien province to be increasingly strong and stable in terms of national defense and security.