FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

Sydney -May 11, 2014 - The Federation of Vietnamese Catholic Mass Media welcomes and would like to express our support to the Open Letter from Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, President of the Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops (VCCB) titled "Regarding the current situation at East Sea", and also to share the concerns and worries of our Vietnamese bishops in the wake of the arbitrary violation or invasion of Vietnamese territorial waters by China in the East sea.

News on the current situation in the East Sea has indicated that Since May 2nd, 2014, China has arbitrarily deployed a drilling rig known as HD-981 and a number of escort vessels including military ones to occupy and carry out activities well within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. On May 3rd, 2014 and the next day, Chinese marine vessels, with the aid of war planes, launched an attack against Vietnamese Fisheries Surveillance and an on duty Coast Guard vessels.

This action of provocative nature by the Chinese has spoken volume of their ambition to carry out the plot to invade Vietnam step by step, disregarding the International Codes of Conduct that were signed by China and Vietnam, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Draft Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC). This situation is posing a very high risk of war.

The developments have indicated that China has been seriously trampling on Vietnam sovereignty despite oppositions from the US, Japan, and Asean nations.

In this agonizing event of our country, in the wake of Vietnam facing another risk of being invaded by the Chinese, also of so many injustice the Vietnamese communist authorities has been inflicting on our people's patriotism and democracy, The Federation of Vietnamese Catholic Mass Media would like to be in communion, share our thoughts and prayers with our country, our people and the Church in Vietnam.

The Federation of Vietnamese Catholic Mass Media in our responsibility and duty solemnly state our view and stance as follow:

1. Sternly condemn China's invasion in Vietnam before the international community, meanwhile demand the Vietnamese Communist authorities respect Vietnamese people's freedom, democracy, and human rights.

2. Completely support the viewpoints of the letter of Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, President of the Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops "Regarding the current situation at East Sea". While the Church in Vietnam has been consistent in her position of promoting peace and against war, peace should be constructed on justice.

3. Respond to and call for all Vietnamese to take actions as asked by the VCCB's Call Letter. "Patriotism is demonstrated when we are not being indifferent to our country's situation now or in the future, diligently pray and make sacrifices for our homeland, our country as directed by our conscience, also actively involve in activities that help protect our fatherland, and be ready to respond to calls for rescuing our fatherland.

4. Are eager to invite all communities, congregations and friends from other religions around the world to share innovative ideas in organizing prayer vigils for our homeland and our Vietnamese people in this heartbreaking situation

We earnestly call for all Congresses, Governments, Political parties in every nations, Human rights Organizations, the Amnesty International, the International Committee for Human rights and the World Media as well as the Vietnamese Overseas Media to be with us in our fight for true peace and for the protection of our beloved country Vietnam.

Contacts:

Bishop Vincent Nguyen Van Long
Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Australia

Monsignor Peter Nguyen Van Tai
Director of Radio VERITAS Asia

Rev. John Tran Cong Nghi
Director of VietCatholic News Agency

Rev. Joachim Viet-Chau Nguyen Duc
Editor of the People of God Monthly Magazine ( in America)

Rev. Anthony Nguyen Huu Quang
Vice Director of VietCatholic News Agency
Editor of the People of God Monthly Magazine ( in Australia )

Rev. Stephen Luu Thuong Bui
Editor of the People of God Monthly Magazine (in Europe)

Rev. Paul Van- Chi Chu
Vice Director of VietCatholic News Agency

The Federation of Vietnamese Catholic Mass Media